G57: Red Sox 9, Yankees 3

After some initial annoyance -- three solo home runs to three left-handed Yankee batters (Damon (leading off the first inning), Williams and Cano), which gave New York a 3-1 lead after five -- Curt Schilling suddenly became ultra-economical.

Schilling faced and dispatched nine straight Yankees in the 6th, 7th and 8th innings on a total of 23 pitches (7-9-7). At the same time, Boston chased Jaret Wright in the sixth -- walk, single, single, HBP to start the frame -- battered Scott "Umm, Joe, My Arm's Gonna Fly Out Of Its Socket By August" Proctor (two doubles and Tek's three-run line drive home run to right), and abused Scott Erickson (an HBP and two hits, including Coco Crisp's two-run single to cap the scoring).

After eight innings, Boston led 9-3 and Schilling had thrown only 96 pitches, but Jonathan Papelbon came on for the ninth (he hadn't pitched since Sunday).

The New York 9th against the Papelbot:

Damon - first pitch foul pop out to catcher.
Cabrera - (cbbcbf) walk.
Giambi - (cbs) struck out swinging (strike two: 96 fastball; strike three: 89 in the dirt).
Slappy McLastout - (cf) struck out swinging (96 heat up and away).

Papelbon's ERA dropped by a mere 0.01 -- from 0.32 to 0.31.

***

It turns out lefty Jon Lester will make his major league debut on Saturday in the first game of the Rangers doubleheader. Matt Clement gets the ball on Sunday and David Pauley will be available out of the pen over the weekend.

MFY: Gary Sheffield will have surgery on his left wrist next week and will be out until September (at least).

Schilling / Wright, 7 PM