Sox are left hurting

Thomas's three-homer game was the first by an opposing player against the Sox since Blue Jays teammate Vernon Wells did it here on May 30, 2006, and the 15th time in the last 50 years an opposing hitter has accomplished the feat.

None of them were named Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, Po, or whatever characters Matsuzaka and his translator, Masa Hoshino, were required to dress as during the team's annual rookie hazing ritual Sunday night.

With 11 games to play, the magic number remains nine, as the Yankees beat the Orioles, 8-5, in the Bronx. The lead over the Bombers in the American League East is down to 3 1/2 games. The last time the race was that close was May 1, when the Sox held a 3 1/2-game advantage over the Blue Jays.

While Thomas was enjoying the second three-homer game of his career - the other coming at the expense of Wakefield on Sept. 15, 1996 in Fenway Park - manager Terry Francona ran out a lineup that was missing Manny Ramírez (19 games) and Kevin Youkilis, had David Ortiz treading carefully on a balky knee, and had to subtract Coco Crisp when his back became cranky.

"We're going to have to fight through it," said Francona, who announced after the game that rookie phenom Clay Buchholz will draw the start here tomorrow night against the Blue Jays, his first since throwing a no-hitter against Baltimore on Sept. 1 in his second big-league start.

"David didn't feel great, Coco's back acted up a little bit, but we'll just have to take stock of how guys feel tomorrow. David's knee, we'll have to see how he feels. Hopefully, he'll make it to the day off [Thursday]. We'd like to get to the day off, but if we can't, we won't."

Ortiz was active on the bases over the weekend against the Yankees - he was thrown out at the plate in the third inning Friday - and had gone back to taking anti-inflammatories. Since reaching base five times Saturday, Ortiz is 0 for his last 7 (with two walks), striking out four times, including three times last night.