PRESSURE DROP

Just when you thought the final nail was about to be driven into the Yankees 2008 season the Red Sox came up small. Future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera gave up a run and loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the ninth today at the Bronx. However, the Red Sox lost their fight at the worse time and Rivera and the Yankees were still breathing with a 2-1 victory.

Rivera allowed a pair of singles and hit two batters in that eventful ninth inning. When he hit Kevin Youkilis with a pitch to load the bases you could see Yankee fans start to begin the mourning process. However, Coco Crisp struck out on three weak swings, Jason Varitek popped up in the infield and Julio Lugo looked overmatched stiking out for the final out of the game. It was the type of game that just may have saved the Yankees from going into a long painful death spiral for the remainder of the regular season. They have the Red Sox to thank for that.

It was a well played game up to that point. New York's Mike Mussina and Boston's Justin Masterson both pitched well and their defenses made several spectacular plays behind them. Masterson pitched out of some jams and kept his team afloat while Mike Mussina threw six scoreless innings. It looked like the Sox would be shut out until Rivera came in a handed them a golden opportunity they could not take advantage of.

Tomorrow the final game of this four-game series will be played. Tim Wakefield takes the mound for Boston and Joba The Hut goes for the Yankees. This past game was a heartbreaker. Let's see if the Sox can rally and hammer the Yankees coffin shut!