G70: Red Sox 11, Nationals 3

Red Sox   - 010 110 161 - 11 17  0
Nationals - 100 101 000 -  3  8  1

... and a tight, see-saw game became a laugher in a ten-batter eighth inning, thanks to two-RBI hits from both Jason Bay and Jacoby Ellsbury.

Those two guys were also the offensive stars of the game. Bay went 4-for-6, with three singles and his 19th home run (capping off a nine-pitch AB in the second), three runs scored and three RBI. Ellsbury was 4-for-4, with two singles, two triples, one walk, three RBI and a stolen base. He scored only one run, but was stranded at third two other times.

Dustin Pedroia had two doubles and a single and Kevin Youkilis had two hits, two runs and two RBI. ... The Red Sox scored at least one run of each of the six Washington pitchers.

Penny (5.2-6-3-3-6, 112) had trouble with two-out hits in the first and sixth innings and all three of his walks came in the fourth inning, but he was able to get out of jams when he needed to. Daniel Bard loaded the bases with one out in the ninth (a walk and two singles), but got a 3-6-1 DP from Nick Johnson to end the game.

Atlanta shutout the Yankees 4-0, so Boston is 5 GA in the East -- their biggest lead since September 15, 2007.

***

I forgot to mention: The Nats Can't Spell.

Winn.

***

Brad Penny (4.94, 95 ERA+) / John Lannan (3.38, 129 ERA+)

In nine starts since May 3, Penny has a 3.71 ERA over 53.1 innings -- and has not allowed an earned run in his last 11 innings of work.

With Daisuke Matsuzaka out of action for the foreseeable future and John Smoltz's health still a question mark, it seems unlikely (even with Clay Buchholz in Pawtucket and Justin Masterson's ability to rejoin the rotation) that the Red Sox will be trading Penny.

Lannan is a 24-year-old lefty in his second full season with Washington. He had a 3.91 ERA (112 ERA+) in 31 starts last year. In his last four outings this season, he has gone 28.1-17-10-15, with a 1.91 ERA.

Lannan grew up on Long Island and rooted for the Yankees. In his last start, he tossed 8.1 innings in a 3-2 win over the New Yorkers in the Bronx. What does he think about facing the rival Red Sox?

Not a big deal. I wasn't really into the whole Yankees-Red Sox thing. I liked the Yankees, but I didn't hate the Red Sox. ... Before that rivalry really heated up.

Lannan says he stopped going to games in 2000 and never saw the Red Sox play at Yankee Stadium.

****

Over in Yankeeland, Bob Klapisch says Joe Girardi is "entering a critical phase of his managerial career". Given Girardi's history of overworking his players, Klapisch wonders about CC Sabathia, who was pulled from his start on Sunday in the second inning with tenderness in his left biceps.

That injury comes after Sabathia pitched at least seven innings for eight straight starts (May 8 to June 16) -- and after he led the major leagues in innings pitched and batters faced in both 2007 and 2008.

The Yankees -- 4 GB -- are in Atlanta tonight. The Blue Jays are 5 GB and the Rays are 6 GB.