BACK ON TRACK

You know your team is in a good stretch of play when they come off a loss and get right back into the win column the following night. And that's just what the Red Sox did on Thursday evening against New York. Manny Ramirez and Josh Beckett led the way in a no doubt about it 7-5 victory over the Yankees in front of a quiet crowd at the Stadium.

Ramirez got the Sox started with a solo shot to centerfield off Yankee starter Mike Mussina in the second inning. Ramirez then highlighted a four -run third inning with a two run shot deep into the leftfield seats to put the Sox up 4-0. Ramirez finished the night 3 for 5 at the plate and is now hitting .343 with five homers and 18 runs driven in.

Beckett kept the Yankees scoreless through four innings and looked more and more like the ace of this staff that led the team to a World Series title last season. He finished the night giving up three runs on six hits over eight innings. Beckett is now 2-1 on the season with a 5.12 era. He retired the last 10 batters he faced.

The Red Sox are now 10-7 on the season and in first place in the American League Eastern Division by a half game over Baltimore. The Sox have won five of their last six games and seven of their last 10 since being swept on the road by Toronto. The team now flies home for the start of a seven game home stand. Texas comes in for a four-game set beginning tomorrow evening and the Los Angeles Angels follow with a three-game set. On Monday the Sox play their annual Patriots Day game against the Rangers.

STILL NO SIGN OF LIFE FROM ORTIZ

David Ortiz is now hitting .111 on the season. He is in a miserable slump (7 for 63) that has him visibly frustrated. There is little sign of the ever present smile he normally wears. He's pressing at the plate and last night sent equipment flying after a weak pop up in the middle innings.

Is it time to worry? Not at all. Especially with Ramirez on a tear along with Kevin Youkilis (.371) and J. D. Drew (.362) off to great starts behind Ortiz and Ramirez in the lineup. It stands to reason that Ortiz will continue to see pitches to hit with that trio coming up to bat behind him. Last season Ortiz became a more complete hitter and it's safe to assume he will once again become a terror in the red Sox lineup. For the time being his teammamtes are picking him up and letting the rest of the league know that they are not a one man show.