Finally, coast is clear

July 24, 2008|Dan Shaughnessy, Globe Columnist

SEATTLE - Yankees tomorrow. At Fenway. The return of David Ortiz. Maybe the return of Manny Ramírez. Joba Chamberlain and Josh Beckett throwing darts.

Get there early. This could be the beginning of the pennant race in the American League East.

"A Big Bash At Boston Against the Bronx Bombers," said Mike Lowell, who hit the game-breaking two-run single in yesterday's 12-inning, 6-3, coast-wrap victory over the moribund Mariners.

The Yankees haven't been at Fenway since bygone days when the Bruins were playing the Canadiens in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Steinbrenner AC comes to town riding a six-game winning streak, trailing the Sox by a mere two games in the loss column. The inconvenient Rays remain in first place in the AL East, which makes our annual Hub-Apple joust more urgent than usual: one of these traditional titans might not make the playoffs. It's even possible both could be rudely bounced from the tournament. The humanity!

Yesterday's/last night's series/trip finale at Safeco enabled the Sox to return with a 3-3 West Coast record. The victory furnished hope that the Sox may have found a stretch-run reliever in Justin Masterson, but also planted seeds of doubt regarding the immediate and long-term future of Ramírez.

Let's start with the good news: Making the first big league relief appearance of his life, Masterson was sensational. He inherited a first-and-second, one-out situation in the sixth inning of a 3-3 game and promptly whiffed two batters on seven pitches. He followed that with two perfect innings.

Eight up, eight down. Not bad for a 23-year-old rookie who was recalled from Pawtucket Sunday.

"That's the guy we were hoping we'd see," said Terry Francona. "We're not going to jump up and down during the game for the future, but that was exciting."

The manager continues to say he believes in his bullpen. Hideki Okajima, Manny Delcarmen, and even Craig Hansen enjoyed scoreless outings yesterday, but none have stepped up to provide the bridge to Jonathan Papelbon. Sox fans are trained to cover their eyes in the seventh and eighth innings.

Masterson is going to be a stud starter someday soon, but for the balance of 2008 he might be the answer in the bullpen.

"I just want to come in and make sure no one else scores," said the kid righty. "It was so much fun. I'm happy to have a chance to help out the team. I just want to be part of it. However I'm used, I just want to get guys out when I'm put in there."

In contrast, we have Mr. Manny, who said nothing of the kind yesterday.