September 14, 2008
The Battle for Home
The Red Sox defeat the Jays 4-3 and the Yankees down the Rays 8-4 to set up a showdown in Tampa Bay starting Monday. Three good pitching matchups are on tap as Kazmir, Sonnanstine and Garza take on Matsuzaka, Beckett and Wakefield.
The Red Sox haven't won in Tampa this season. If the Rays can take two games, they win the season series and only need a tie with Boston to win the division and home field in the first round. Given the home record of both teams, this will be a hard fought series.
With Minnesota losing big to Baltimore today, the Wild Card is almost certain to come from the east. Whoever wins the division gets the Central champ, while the loser gets the Angels, the best road team in league.
Papelbon got racked for the second time this week. He looks tired and everything is up and getting crushed. Lester is 8-1 against AL East.