In recent years Roger Clemens has said that he gets more satisfaction from the games he has to plod through without his best stuff than from the games he dominates. Chien-Ming Wang was far from sharp last night. He fell behind batters constantly, lots of 2-0 counts, lots of three balls counts. The Red Sox have hit Wang well in the past so he threw more sliders and off-speed pitches than normal.

“There were some good changeups, good sliders and two-seamers with movement,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “That’s just the (evolution) of a good young pitcher. I don’t necessarily think it’s a different strategy. It’s a maturing pitcher.”
(N.Y. Daily News)

The results weren’t especially pretty, but in the end, they were effective. Wang allowed two runs over six-and-a-third, the bullpen didn’t allow a run the rest of the way, as the Yankees beat the Red Sox, 6-2.

Johnny Damon showed some life in his legs, swiping a couple of bases, Alex Rodriguez homered for the third consecutive game, and Jason Giambi planted a Tim Wakefield knuckleball way up in the upper deck, a whiffle ball home run come to life. Robinson Cano had a big, two-run triple, and also made a nifty back-hand pick in the eighth inning with the bases loaded. Julio Lugo hit a Scott Proctor pitch squarely with two men out. Cano fielded it cleany and flipped it to Jeter at second for the force and the Red Sox rally was squarshed.

Just a couple of few notes:

Jack Curry weighs in on Jason Giambi’s latest controversy, while George King writes that the Angels may be interested in the Yankee slugger.

Over at Was Watching, Steve Lombardi has a link to a Bob Klapisch article where Jorge Posada talks about the losing mentality that has overcome the Yankees this season.

Ben Kabak has the latest on a Metro North train station at Yankee Stadium.