So, did the Olympics opening ceremony seem a little like an ad for one of those old Time-Life music collections? The American League East is much less confusing.
Yankees: With Ichiro Suzuki making his home debut as a Yankee and the Red Sox in town, New York didnt have to think about its just-completed 2-5 road trip. So instead, the Yankees played more like they have been most of this season, clubbing the Red Sox, 10-3, on Friday. Suzuki went 1-for-4 and scored twice. "It has been a while since this type of experience," Suzuki said of the New York atmosphere. Curtis Granderson hit a grand slam and the Yankees got two other homers. Starter Phil Hughes allowed three Boston homers, but each was a solo shot. Hes tied for the major-league lead in homers given up with 25. However, he pitched seven innings, yielded five hits and struck out five in running his record to 10-8.
Red Sox: You can just feel the frustration dripping off Dustin Pedroias words. The Red Sox second baseman had to talk about yet another loss Friday. "The first 100 games have been lousy" Pedroia said. "I mean, at two games under .500, we're the Boston Red Sox. If everyone's thrilled about where we're at, then we need to re-evaluate, because I don't like losing. I know everyone else doesn't like losing, so we've got to play better, man." In a repeating theme, Pedroia also talked about how the Red Sox just arent playing like themselves. "We have great players we just need to play good," Pedroia said. "That's it. We didn't. Swinging early in the count heck, if their eighth-inning guy is going to come in the game, let's at least get 25, 30 pitches so maybe he can't pitch tomorrow. Do something productive, and we're not doing that. That's a sign of not a winning team, so those are the little things that we need to do better, and it's frustrating."
Blue Jays: The past isnt necessarily prologue. Maybe thats what Carlos Villanueva was saying to himself. Well, probably not, but what he did was put behind a first inning when he gave up back-to-back to homers and settled down for five productive innings in the Blue Jays 8-3 win over the Tigers on Friday. Villanueva (6-0) is unbeaten since joining the rotation from the bullpen. "What he has shown repeatedly is that he is going to keep the game under control," manager John Farrell said. "He sets the tone, he throws strikes and is capable of making the key pitch in tough situations." Toronto took the lead with a four-run fourth, highlighted by Jeff Mathis three-RBI double.
Rays: Its not a game of inches. Its a game of fractions of an inch. Rays left fielder Sam Fuld nearly made a catch of Albert Pujols line drive that would have defused a three-run third inning, but because he couldnt, Tampa Bay lost to the Angels, 3-1, on Friday. "Probably about as close as you could get without catching it,'' Fuld said. "I don't think I would have done anything differently it just went off the tip of my glove. If I had a 13-inch glove instead of a 12 34-inch, I probably would have caught it. Or if I was 5-9 12 instead of 5-8 34. Either or.''
