Sweep sets up Yankees' run at postseason

Sweep sets up Yankees' run at postseason By AP

NEW YORK -- With drama and flair, the New York Yankees completed another August sweep of the Boston Red Sox and moved into prime position for a September playoff run.

There was a week's worth of highlights during the Yankees' 5-0 victory yesterday: a no-hit bid by Chien-Ming Wang into the seventh inning, a pair of big home runs by Robinson Cano off Curt Schilling, a disputed play involving Alex Rodriguez that led to the ejection of Boston manager Terry Francona.

And then in the ninth, Yankees rookie sensation Joba Chamberlain was tossed following a pair of pitches over Kevin Youkilis' head.

It's not even Labor Day, and already there was late-season passion between these old foes.

"If that young man is trying to get our attention, he did a very good job," Francona said.

Edwar Ramirez, another rookie, completed a two-hitter and the Yankees' first shutout of Boston since Sept. 11, 2005.

Last year, the Yankees swept a five-game series at Boston from Aug. 18-21, opening a 6 1/2 -game lead in the AL East.

It's so different this season. The Yankees, who outscored the Red Sox 14-6 in the three games and outhit them 30-13, closed within five games of the division leaders and put themselves in position to possibly end the day in the wild-card lead. New York, which began the day one percentage point behind Seattle, had not finished a day in playoff position since April 10, when the Yankees were 4-3.

Chamberlain's ejection left bad feelings all around. Throwing 98-99 m.p.h., he pumped a pitch over Youkilis' head with one out in the ninth. The next pitch went to nearly the same spot, and Youkilis stared as plate umpire Angel Hernandez ejected the pitcher.

Chamberlain was shocked, saying both pitches slipped.

Youkilis was angry.

"I didn't see any other pitches going that far out of the strike zone," he said.

"Who knows what it really meant?"

From: Uzan, Patrick
Sent: August-31-07 11:24 AM

Subject: Re: EZRyder Cup - SATURDAY September 8, Wardsville - Proposed Captains & Teams

Hey Dan-o - what exactly constitutes a "sniff"?