G112: Yankees 7, Red Sox 2

Red Sox - 000 010 100 - 2  7  2
Yankees - 020 050 00x - 7 12  1

It would likely have been better if Beckett (4.2-11-7-2-6, 105) had been the starter who was unable to pitch, and not Burnett. Beckett struggled in the second inning -- four hits, two runs, 29 pitches -- and was left out on the mound for eight batters and 30 pitches in the fifth inning; five of the first six Yankees reached base against him and all five scored.

Boston could do very little with Moseley (6.1-6-2-2-5, 87). Bill Hall hit his 13th home run in the fifth (he also singled twice). Mike Lowell had a pinch-hit RBI single off Joba Chamberlain in the seventh. Later in that inning, Boone Logan retired David Ortiz on a two-out, bases-loaded grounder to end the threat.

Tim Wakefield pitched three innings of relief, facing ten batters, striking out three, and allowing only a single.

For the second day in a row, the Red Sox could have gained ground on both the Yankees and the Rays, but did not. Two weekend wins would have put Boston a mere 3 GB New York. Instead, they are 7 GB.

The Blue Jays beat the Rays 1-0 (and swept the three-game series), as Brandon Morrow (9-1-0-2-17, 137) came within one out of pitching the sixth no-hitter of 2010. It also would have been the third time Tampa Bay had been no-hit in the last three months. The Rays have lost their last five games.

Josh Beckett / A.J. Burnett Dustin Moseley

Ellsbury, CF
Scutaro, SS
Ortiz, DH
Martinez, 1B
Drew, RF
Beltre, 3B
Kalish, LF
Hall, 2B
Cash, C

It's a match-up of former Marlins teammates. Since pitching together in Florida from 2001-05, they have faced each other four times: April 21, 2006, when Burnett was with the Blue Jays, and three times last year: April 25 (Boston 16-11), June 9 (Boston 7-0), and August 7 (New York 2-0 (15)).

In three starts since coming off the disabled list, Beckett has a 2.18 ERA over 20.2 innings, allowing 13 hits and four walks.

David Ortiz is 10-for-39 against Burnett, but among those 10 hits are five doubles and three dongs. Adrian Beltre also enjoys slugging against Cletus: 10-for-31, with six doubles and a home run. (On the other side, Robinson Cano destroys Beckett.)

At 1 PM: Rays/Blue Jays

August 8:

1877 - After St. Louis catcher John Clapp has his cheek smashed by a foul tip‚ back-up Mike Dorgan takes over, wearing a mask. This may be the first time a catcher's mask was used in an official NL game.

1920 - The Tigers beat the Yankees 1-0 in 1:13, the shortest game by time in AL history.

1966 - The Red Sox-Cleveland game at Fenway Park is stopped four times because of fog. Boston wins 3-1.