Big Win Makes For Bigger Day

Not only did the Red Sox win an enormous game on Tuesday, they accomplished all of the following:

1) Won in a Tim Wakefield start, and his first back off the DL at that.
2) Proved that they can rack up hits and score runs with Manny Ramirez in the Bronx.
3) Added a game in the wild card standings between themselves and the Yankees, meaning that -- at worst -- they'd have a four-game edge two days from now.
4) Added depth and another bat to the outfield, assuming that the Mark Kotsay trade goes through.

Which of those moves is most significant remains to be seen. Another win in Yankee Stadium, and that victory would immediately take precedence over all other actions. The Yankees truly are on the brink now, there's no denying it. Losing this series to the Sox, as Manager Joe Girardi said before the three-game set started, would essentially end realistic playoff hopes for New York. Doesn't mean it wouldn't happen, but it would be severely unlikely.

Add in a near perfect bullpen session from Boston ace Josh Beckett, and you have the makings of one incredibly strong night for the Red Sox. Sure, Manny Delcarmen had another rough night -- an increasingly worrisome trend -- but he was bailed out by the burgeoning bullpen star Justin Masterson.

One huge day, one day closer to dual goals: A playoff berth and the simultaneous denial of the Yankees earning one.

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