G132: Red Sox 11, Yankees 3

Red Sox - 200 020 070 - 11 13  0
Yankees - 100 100 001 -  3  8  0

Dustin Pedroia's grand slam capped a seven-run eighth inning, putting the second game of the series out of reach, and putting the toe tags on the Yankees' 2008 season.

Jason Bay drove in four of Boston's five runs, with a double, a triple and a sacrifice fly.

David Ortiz reached base four times for the second game in a row (in 10 PA, four walks, three doubles, and a single):

Tue: BB, 2B, F9, BB, 2B
Wed: 2B, BB, BB, 1-3, 1B

Byrd (6-5-2-2-5, 106) was superb, allowing only a couple of two-out RBI singles and staying out of any serious trouble. After the Yankees tied the score in the bottom of the fourth, the Red Sox stormed back to retake the lead -- and drive Ponson to the showers -- and Byrd retired seven of his last eight batters.

Manny Delcarmen pitched a beautiful seventh (K, K, P5) and Mike Timlin finished up the final two innings.

***

The Rays shutout the Blue Jays 1-0, the Twins edged the Mariners 6-5, and the Orioles routed the White Sox 11-3.

AL East: Boston 3.5 GB & New York 10.5 GB

***

Paul Byrd (4.61, 95 ERA+) / Sidney Ponson (4.67, 91 ERA+)

Ponson has made 10 starts for New York: 56 IP, 68 H, 22 BB, 21 K, 5.46 ERA, 1.607 WHIP. Opposing batters have an .862 OPS (.313/.383/.479).

Back on July 27, Ponson went 4-10-7-1-1 against the Red Sox. Grab your forks and knives, Red Sox batters, it's time to feast on the plump, drunk-drivin', judge-slappin' carcass of Sidney Alton Ponson!

With J.D. Drew on the disabled list (retroactive to August 18), the Red Sox are trying to swing a deal for Atlanta outfielder Mark Kotsay. Several media outlets reported the trade was completed last night, including Rogers Sportnet in Canada, but that appears to be incorrect. WAIT: Now it is done ... maybe.

And: Twins/Mariners at 4:30 and Blue Jays/Rays and White Sox/Orioles at 7.