Jason Giambi Beats Red Sox 3-2

( REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0		2	5	0
N.Y. Yankees	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	1		3	8	1

He still shouldn't bat fifth, but Jason Giambi single-handedly won today's game to help the Yankees avoid a sweep to the Red Sox. With the left-handed Jon Lester pitching Giambi didn't even start today's game, but with the Yankees trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the 7th Joe Girardi sent Giambi up to pitch hit with a man on first and two out. On the second pitch he saw from reliever Hideki Okajima, Giambi launched a long two-run homer off the black seats in center to tie the game.

Two innings later, with the score still tied, Giambi came up again. This time the bases were loaded with one out and douche bag Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon was on the mound. After Papelbon got ahead 0-2 on the count he fired a fastball on the outside corner and Jason Giambi lined it into center for a game-winning, walk-off single to give the Yankees a much needed 3-2 victory.

I probably shouldn't say he single-handedly won them today's game because Mike Mussina pitched great. In seven innings Moose allowed two runs on five hits, while walking two and striking out six. He had one bad inning, the 5th, where he allowed both Red Sox runs, but besides that he was fantastic. He pitched well enough to win, but couldn't get number 17 because Jon Lester was even better and the Yankees couldn't score untill the Sox went to the bullpen.

After Mussina departed, Brian Bruney, Damaso Marte, and Mariano Rivera took care of the final two innings. Rivera also picked up his 5th win of the year, and once again didn't give up a run in a non-save situation.

A-Rod had another rough day at the plate, going 0-for-4 with three strike outs, and he also left four men on base. And besides Jason Giambi, the Yankees still can't drive in runs. In the sixth they had runners on first and second with nobody out, and A-Rod, Abreu and Nady coming up, but were unable to score. They had two on with one out in the 1st and also couldn't score.

Unless somehow the Yanks and Sox manage to meet in this year's ALCS (not going to happen), today was the last meeting between these two rivals at The House That Ruth Built. And it was only fitting that the Yankees won this one. I would have hated to see the Red Sox sweep the final series they played at this historic stadium. Its bad enough they won two of three.

The Jays come into town tomorrow to begin a three-game series at The Stadium. And yes, the Yankees will have to face both Halladay and Burnett.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, CF	3	0	0	0	0	2	0	.311
Jeter, SS	4	0	3	0	0	0	0	.297
Abreu, RF	4	0	1	0	0	0	2	.296
Rodriguez, A, 3B	4	0	0	0	0	3	4	.307
Nady, LF	4	0	1	0	0	1	4	.327
1-Gardner, PR	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	.189
Cano, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	.266
Matsui, DH	3	0	0	0	1	2	0	.307
Ransom, 1B	2	1	1	0	0	1	0	.750
Rodriguez, I, C	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.280
Molina, C	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	.228
a-Giambi, PH-1B	2	1	2	3	0	0	0	.251
Totals	32	3	8	3	2	10	12
a-Homered for Molina in the 7th. 1-Ran for Nady in the 9th.
BATTING 2B: Ransom (1, Lester). HR: Giambi (27, 7th inning off Okajima, 1 on, 2 out). TB: Jeter 3; Abreu; Nady; Ransom 2; Giambi 5. RBI: Giambi 3 (81). 2-out RBI: Giambi 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Nady 2. Team LOB: 8. BASERUNNING SB: Gardner (6, 2nd base off Masterson/Varitek). CS: Jeter (4, 2nd base by Lester/Varitek).

RED SOX OFFENSE

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Mussina	7.0	5	2	2	2	6	0	3.41
Bruney	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2.35
Marte	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	4.24
Rivera (W, 5-5)	1.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.50

RED SOX PITCHING

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jason Giambi (2-for-2, HR, 3 RBI, R, GW Single)

HONORABLE MENTION: Mike Mussina: (7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K)

The Yankees begin a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays at The Stadium tomorrow. Carl Pavano will make his second start this season for the Yanks, and he will face A.J. Burnett. First Pitch: 7:05 p.m. - TV: YES - Radio: WCBS 880.