Homers, Walks, And An Error Help Red Sox Topple Yankees

With a 2-1 lead in the second inning, Javier Vazquez got Mike Lowell to pop up. He came in, ignoring his catcher calling him off. Francisco Cervelli took a few steps down the first base line and, perhaps distracted by Vazquez' presence, failed to make the catch.

It was just a pop up, and ultimately a one base error, but it was perhaps the most damaging play of the game. Vazquez allowed back-to-back two out walks to load the bases and tie the game, before Marco Scutaro cleaned out an inside fastball for a two run double.

It came after David Ortiz had already gotten to him with a long shot to center to start the scoring in the first, and it wouldn't be until the sixth inning when the Red Sox would hurt him again with Ryan Kalish's first career home run adding two more. But it changed the tone of the game, and gave the Red Sox an early lead to hold on to.

Clay Buchholz allowed three runs in 7.1 innings pitched, but really was stronger than that for most of the night. After allowing two runs on a Mark Teixeira homer in the first inning, Buchholz dug in and held the offense largely in check for the rest of his outing, pounding the strike zone and keeping the ball on the ground. He struck out four, walked none, and did a good job with a skewed zone without any sort of outside corner.

Daniel Bard closed out the eighth with to quick outs before being pulled for Papelbon in the ninth. Derek Jeter made it a little interesting with a very long at bat culminating in a walk, but Nick Swisher flew out to end the inning and the game, giving the Sox the 6-3 win.