A back-and-forth game at Fenway on Wednesday night: New York leads, Red Sox take it away; New York takes it back, Sox wrestle it back and hold it the rest of the way.
The Red Sox hit three home runs, to all fields: David Ortiz (to dead center), Jacoby Ellsbury (to the Monster Seats, his first opposite field home run in his career) and Jason Varitek (into the Red Sox bullpen in right).
Tek's blast was in the 8th inning, and it iced the game at 9-5.
And there was no hand clapping at the plate when he arrived.
Josh Beckett was roughed up for five runs (four earned) in seven innings, but got the W, and became the first Sox pitcher to beat New York four times in one year since Al Nipper (remember him?) did it in 1987.
The pen was stellar, as both Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon retired all three hitters they faced. Pap countinues to be overpowering, as in his last 17 outings, he has allowed just three baserunners, all on hits. He has struck out 20 and walked none.
The Red Sox are once again 1 1/2 games back, and go for the series win Thursday night with Jon Lester facing A.J. (Where Do You Want It?) Burnett.
