In Mo we trust

In fairness, on the heels of Joba's (short) career day and Mo looking like the hero by getting five outs and escaping a two-on one-out jam in the 8th, Kyle Farnsworth wasn't horrible. He gave up two cheapy hits and I think Joe Girardi panicked a little.

That said, this game and the next two are huge for the Yankees, they been coming on like a pinstripes comet, finally pairing enough runs with the solid pitching they've gotten most of the season. One was all they need today, all they got against Josh Beckett, who always gives the Yanks such a hard time.

The dust up in the 7th was typical of this rivalry. Kevin Youkilis dives into the plate, and takes one of the knob. The fact is Joba hasn't hit Youkilis yet, despite what appears to be his best efforts. More comical out of the whole thing was Youkilis waving feebly at the next two breaking balls and, just after the foul, Beckett popping out the dugout, ready to throw down.

First of all, Josh Beckett is a redneck who needs to calm down. I'm positive he didn't pitch the 8th because Terry Francona knew Beckett would drill A-Rod and get ejected and suspended. There's no other reason to pull him. Becket's stuff was fine, his pitch count wasn't awful heading into the eighth. No, that collar was for Beckett's own good.

Incidentally, kudos to the MY9 team for having the previous buzzballs Joba threw at/to Youkilis ready to roll. I'm pretty sure "That was right at my f***ing head" was out of Youkilis' mouth before those flashback was rolling.

And, as these things happen, Manny Delcarmen took one shot at A-Rod, missed, eventually struck A-Rod out, and injured himself on the third strike. Ha ha.

Of course, the highlight was Mike Lowell going nuclear on HP umpire Marty Foster and Foster's roomy strikezone. Lowell got punched out after 7 or 8 pitches - a bunch of fouls as Rivera worked the outside corner - and launched into a gesticulating tirade, eventually getting ejected. I can't blame him. Rivera gets that call. It's probably not a strike, but that's life. Just as JD Drew fell victim to Rivera to end the game. If you have two strikes and you're lefthanded, a two-seamer on the outside part is coming. If it's even close, swing, because it's going to be called a strike.

The Hammer of God gets those calls.