Game time: 1:20 pm


Scheduled starters: Randy Johnson v. Matt Clement

The game will be on FOX.


Boston weather: 10 am observation at BOS: 6,000 feet broken, visibility 6 miles in haze, temperature 74F, DP 68F, wind out of the southeast at 7 mph.

Forecast: Low stratus from earlier in the morning will gradually lift, and it should be a sunny afternoon. Temperatures should be in the low to mid-80's by game time. The dew point will hover around 70F, so it'll be uncomfortably humid. The wind will be southeast to south, at less than 10 mph.

South/southeast wind blows in/slightly from right to left.

Anni

And I'd like to thank the schedule makers for putting the Braves in a night game today, so I will get to see the FOX broadcast of the Sox-Yanks down here in Nashville. Downside, though, is I will get to hear how this is the biggest game of the season for both teams so far from Joe Buck, and I will get to hear how Ortiz somehow hates the ball low and in from Tim McCarver.

Yankees-Red Sox Preview

GAME: New York Yankees (47-41) at Boston Red Sox (50-39).

TIME: Saturday, 1:20 p.m. EDT.

Matt Clement has turned out to be the best offseason acquisition in baseball's biggest rivalry. Randy Johnson was supposed to be.

Coming off an appearance in Tuesday's All-Star game, Clement will try to continue his brilliant pitching when the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox continue a four-game series against Johnson and the New York Yankees.

Clement, signed as a free agent after spending his first seven seasons in the National League, emerged as Boston's first-half ace, winning 10 games - four shy of his career high - and holding together a staff decimated by injuries.

The right-hander was originally left off the AL All-Star roster, but was added after Toronto's Roy Halladay was injured in his final start prior to the break. Clement, who reached 10 wins with a 7-4 victory at Texas on July 6, pitched a scoreless inning in the AL's 7-5 victory Tuesday in Detroit.

Johnson, acquired in an offseason deal from Arizona, was expected to be the driving force behind New York's comeback from an embarrassing AL championship series loss to Boston last October in which the Yankees became the first team ever to squander a 3-0 advantage.

However, after shutting down the Red Sox in the season opener at Fenway on April 3, Johnson spent most of the first half struggling with his consistency and searching for the dominance that made him one of the sport's most intimidating pitchers.

The five-time Cy Young Award winner was 7-6 with a 4.24 ERA on July 1. He then won his final two starts before the break to tie Mike Mussina for the team lead in victories with nine.

Johnson allowed three runs and nine hits over six innings in Sunday's 9-4 victory over Cleveland. He's hoping to carry that momentum into Saturday after watching right-hander Tim Redding and four other Yankee pitchers get embarrassed in Friday night's 17-1 loss.

Trot Nixon hit an inside-the-park three-run homer and David Ortiz added a grand slam as Boston bounced back from Thursday's series-opening 8-6 loss to hand New York just its second defeat in 10 games.

The Red Sox also won 17-1 at Yankee Stadium on May 28, the most runs they ever scored against the Yankees and their biggest margin ever against their archrivals. New York had won 16 of 18 before that loss, which began a 1-9 slide.

STANDINGS: Yankees - 3rd place, 2 1/2 GB, AL East. Red Sox - 1st place, AL East.

YANKEES PROBABLE STARTER: Johnson (9-6, 4.16 ERA). Johnson is 10-6 with a 4.39 ERA in 22 career appearances, including 21 starts, against the Red Sox. He is 2-0 with a 4.26 ERA in three starts against Boston this year.

RED SOX PROBABLE STARTER: Clement (10-2, 3.85 ERA). Clement is 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA in two career starts against the Yankees. At home this year, he is 5-1 with a 3.67 ERA in nine outings.

OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Yankees - Alex Rodriguez, .316 avg., 24 HRs and 74 RBIs; Derek Jeter, 69 runs; Tony Womack, 20 SBs. Red Sox - Johnny Damon, .346 avg., 68 runs and 10 SBs.; Ortiz, 23 HRs and 82 RBIs.

SEASON SERIES: Red Sox, 6-5.

STREAKS AND NOTES: Yankees - The Yankees, who have four starting pitchers on the disabled list, are still not sure who will start Sunday's series finale. ... The Yankees allowed eight runs in the first two innings Friday after giving up that many in an entire game 20 times out of their first 87 this year. ... 2B Womack is 14-for-41 (.341) in his career against RHP Clement. Red Sox - OF Damon is riding a major league season-high 27-game hitting streak. ... DH Ortiz has four career grand slams, including two this season. ... Boston's last inside-the-park homer was by Pokey Reese on May 8, 2004, against Kansas City in Fenway Park.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Yankees - 18-22 on the road; Red Sox - 25-15 at home.

INJURIES: Yankees - RHP Kevin Brown (back), 15-day DL; RHP Carl Pavano (shoulder), 15-day DL; RHP Felix Rodriguez (knee), 15-day DL; RHP Chien-Ming Wang (shoulder), 15-day DL; RHP Jaret Wright (shoulder), 60-day DL; INF Rey Sanchez (back), 60-day DL. Red Sox - RHP Keith Foulke (knee), 15-day DL; RHP Matt Mantei (ankle), 15-day DL.

No Trot?

I thought perhaps it was because he can't hit RJ, but I looked up his stats, and Trot has NEVER faced RJ! Not this year; not ever! He's been hitting lefties well lately, so I hope he isn't injured.

Anni

Hello, just a reminer that NU50 has mojo posted. Looies would do his sub thingy, but the graphics are really funky and barf when Looies attempts to post 'em.

For you lazies, today's color MOJO is GREEN!
As the MFY's are green with envy over our 1rst place standings. Sick and Green of having to send out AAA castoffs and ancient Mariners versus our potent bats...

Okay, folks... I'll transfer NU's mojo...



We continue the wonderful collage of color with another one close to the Sox: Green




Much like "red", "green" is another important color to the Red Sox.









However, the direct links are boring, mojo is all about the little details. Other ways that green will help propel Boston to it's second straight victory.



Leprechauns bring the Luck of the Irish, as well as the tasty Lucky Charms that were so helpful yesterday. Much of the success in the game of baseball is dependent on simple good fortune, and who better than these pint-sized Irishmen to help bring it to Fenway.




It ain't easy being green. But somehow, this lovable frog has been one of the most popular amphibians in Hollywood for decades. Even today, he is still bringing home the bacon (**wink**). Sometimes, it isn't so easy playing in Boston either, but persevere like Kermit

and you too will find your own proverbial (or even literal) pig to love you.


This one is for Matt Clement, and it has nothing to do with his paycheck. Clement didn't get a whole lot of attention prior to this season, but that doesn't mean he didn't deserve some. To steal a line from Swingers, "You're so money, and you don't even know it."



Finally, some nice green grass, for what else: great fielding. It's the long ball that makes the ladies swoon, but its slick fielding that feeds the soul. Here's hoping we get to see some web gems turned in by the Sox in today's game.

Break out the St. Patrick's Day gear in celebration of today's mojo. Sit back and enjoy a fenway frank with some green ketchup and maybe some relish, a crisp dill pickle, a fresh salad, maybe a twist of lime with your cocktail of choice. It's green mojo today, and you know the New York fans will be jealous they don't get to join in on the fun.


Courtesy of NU50...

why belli instead of ortiz (1b!!!) at dh?

Cute lineup.

This is why Stern can't be the 4th OF. I like him on the roster for the rest of the year, but you need someone who can platoon with Trot without messing with the rest of the lineup. Millar's in RF, Ortiz at 1B, and Belli DHing. Don't get me wrong, it's the best we have to offer, but that's why having Payton was very good, and even having Kapler was great last year. So, get better Kap.

I doubt he's injured. The guy may be hitting lefties well, but this is RJ on a little bit of a hot streak. I wouldn't worry. I think it's good news to see Mueller starting today, as he must be fine after that dive yesterday.

Simma down now. Ortiz is underrated at first. No gold glover, but he can hold his own just fine. What's one day in the field anyway.

I am more concerned about Millar in RF than I am about Ortiz at 1b.

Same here.

Just left work, forgot about Fox
Those goddamn morons, covering the Sox
All I ask is for our boys to win today
And may Buck and McCarver have nothing to say
May the hitting be timely, may the pitching be there
May the defense be great, and the umpiring be fair
May our lineup not hurt us, and help us instead
May we leave the Yankees' pitching for dead
Clement is pitching, our ace on this staff
May he pitch a gem, and have a great second half
Well game on is now, I should probably stop
Now let's play some ball, and show off that pop

I hate Millar is RF - he covers absolutely no ground.

Dont walk this guy!

I'm working today so no Buck/McCarver for me. Its Joe and Jerry instead.

Millar in left is scary- Give me Kapler and jettison Millar.
I'm watching golf between pitches so I don't have to listen to the idiots.

Millar in RF is scarier

Oops, gotta put those left and rtight stickers back on my shoes

C'mon boys- lets jump all over Darth here and never look back!

Kapler is on the DL (back issues IIRC).

DH= mirabelli
WTF?

Another RH hitter to face RJ.

I think I'd still take my chances with either Trot or Olerud.

no more balls please!

Oh boy!

Come on Matt show some balls and stop throwing them

Sit down Bernie!

sitdown mr. peanut

Nixon (.359/.294/.653) is hitting lefties better than Mirabelli (.2986/.333/.619) this season although its a small sample size (34 AB and 24 AB).

40 pitches already.

way to get it done MATTY!

Whew....

No more innings like this, please!

ok - way to come back- now lets make RJ pitch

well hopefully, mirabelli > flaherty.

wow, that was a pretty ballsy show by clement. grant it, it was the bottom of the yankees line up, but gotta give credit to tek for settling him down, and clement for making some damn good pitches

I consider myself to be a very tolerant person. But when to Joe Buck become such an annoyance? Just broadcast the damn game - don't try to get the, um, TV audience revved up.

(And, yes, I did see that stupid Bud ad he was in last year)

I have a feeling this game will turn out to be a classic.


- remember this post in a few hours -

In case I forget, I'll remember it now-

DOR-A, DOR-A

Freming has a what ever goes strike zone...
could be a long day kids.....

Clement has to be careful not to fall bacl consistently behind these guys so much!

his pitch count is around 70 already,not good !!!

ouch...no doubt about that one!

I hate Arod

Just told my son: watch this guy; he's going to hit one out. And then... Most predictable home run I've seen in a while. Gidget...

call him jeters lover....it will make you laugh...

kind of like clement pitching today

Three walks and almost 70 pitches already.

Maybe get ChadBrad up. I'd like to see what he could do middle innings.

At this rate it won't be middle innings.