Washed Out

Red Sox take series over Yankees in rain shortened Sunday night finale

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 3- After the last of three rain delays Sunday night in the Bronx, the Boston Red Sox took the finale of a three game series, 3-0 over the New York Yankees. The final delay lasted 45 minutes and the game was called with the Yankees scheduled to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning.

With their win, first place Boston has taken their first two series in the Bronx this season, something done for the second time in 25 years. The Yankees trail the Red Sox by three games in the AL East standings.

Boston scored solo runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Their last a 410-home run to right off the bat of David Ortiz, his team leading 10th off Yankees’ starting pitcher and loser Hiroki Kuroda (6-4).

“It’s frustrating,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi about the rain delays. “It looked like they were playing with percentages,” he commented about the umpires pulling the tarp after the second rain delay of 37-minutes that halted play with one out in the top of the sixth.

After resuming play, Ortiz would hit his home run and, as Girardi alluded to, the forecast was not good but the umpires let play resume hoping the forecasters would be wrong.

“That’s how you get yourself closer to the playoffs,” commented Ortiz about taking the series from the Yankees. “Winning, series, winning series, winning series,” he reiterated with a smile.

The first pitch of the night was delayed 45 minutes because there was a threat of storms coming through the area.

Kuroda allowed three runs in 5.1 innings, allowing eight hits. The second Boston run came in the fifth inning. On the first pitch from Kuroda, Jose Iglesias hit his second career home run.

Boston won their second straight game, seven of their last ten. Right hander Clay Buchholz (8-0) tossed 5.0 shutout innings, on two hits and struck out four. He is tied for most wins in the American League in wins and was credited with the fourth shutout of his career and a complete game.

“He kept them (Yankees) from almost being tentative to a point where they were unsure which pitch was going to come in what sequence,” said Red Sox manager John Farrell about Buchholz. There was no hesitation about Buchholz being lifted after the second rain delay as Andrew Miller came out to pitch in the sixth.

But because Miller did not pitch to a batter, the official scorer credited Buchholz with the complete game.

Farrell said the 20- or 30 minute rain delay and additional time getting the field ready, “was a pretty straight-forward decision,” as to why Buchholz did not return to the mound.

“His location was outstanding with all his pitches,” said Girardi. “We weren’t able to do nothing with him.”

Before the game, catcher Chris Stewart was scratched from the lineup. He experienced similar symptoms relating to dehydration and will be examined on Monday before making a decision as to whether he will be available for the Yankees next game.

Monday night the Yankees open a three-game home series with Cleveland. Andy Pettitte, (4-3) returns from the disabled list and will get the start opposing right hander Justin Masterson (8-3).

Comment Rich Mancuso: Rin786@aol.com