Nightmare in New York

What should have been a 4-game sweep for the Red Sox in New York turned into a split of the series and the Yankees gaining some momentum Sunday night.

It was another frustrating loss as the trend of giving up 2-strike hits and 2-out runs continued. This time the Sox surrendered 3-1 and 4-2 leads and wasted another good effort from a starter - Tim Wakefield was the victim again. Wake, who is 5-6 with a 3.75 ERA, should probably have 10 wins by now.

Terry Francona just can't seem to figure out the right combination in the mix-and-match bullpen the Red Sox have been trying to get by with. javy Lopez was brutal Sunday night and cost Wake the win. For a guy who's supposed to be a lefty specialist he sure struggles against left-handed batters.

The good news was that Manny Delcarmen and Hideki Okajima were excellent, but who knows if they will be good again the next time they're called upon.

BOX SCORE: Yankees 5, Red Sox 4 (10 innings)

The Sox had another chance to win the game in the 9th inning against Mariano Rivera, but once again they couldn't come up with the big hit. Manny Ramirez struck out looking at three straight pitches with the winning run at third base.

It's time for Francona to realize when he gives Manny a night off he might as well tell him not to show up at all. Unlike most players, Manny doesn't keep himself ready in case he's needed.

Most guys who are the best hitter on their team would be chomping at the bit for a chance to get into a tie game against their arch rivals. Manny should have been walking around the dugout with a bat in hand from the 7th inning on hoping to come up in a key situation. But that's just not Manny. When he was called on to pinch hit in the 9th, he was scrambling to find his bat and helmet to get to the on deck circle in time.

The other thing Francona needs to do is stop using Jason Varitek to pinch hit for Kevin Cash. It should be the other way around at this point because Tek is such a liability at the plate even Cash is a better hitter than him. Also, Cash had already doubled home a big run in this game so why not use Manny to pinch hit for Julio Lugo and then let Cash hit for himself.

While we're talking about Tek, it's a complete joke that he's on the All-Star team. Apparently the AL players must hate A.J. Pierzynski, because they voted Tek in over him. Tek should decline the election since he is the worst-hitting catcher in the majors and could use the three days off.

One final note, Lugo actually made a good play and a big play when he jumped and caught a line drive from Bobby Abreau and doubled off Jeter to keep the Sox ahead 3-2 in the 6th. Then he led off the next inning with a single and scored the fourth run, but since he still is a pig he was lifted for a pinch hitter and wasn't in the game in the 10th when the ball hit by Brett Gardner went off Alex Cora's glove allowing the Yankees to score the winning run.

Had Lugo still been in the game he never would have gotten to the ball and Dustin Pedroia would have reached it and kept Robinson Cano at third base. The Pig strikes again even when he's not in the game.

The best thing I heard during the game was when Peter Gammons said the Sox are looking to acquire a shortstop and if they don't find one they may just promote Jed Lowrie. Please let that happen. Anything to spare us of a second half with The Pig.