We're Underway In Round 2

YANKEES (66-42)
1. Jeter SS
2. Damon LF
3. Teixeira 1B
4. Rodriguez 3B
5. Matsui DH
6. Posada C
7. Cano 2B
8. Swisher RF
9. Cabrera CF

Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett (10-5, 3.89).

RED SOX (62-45)
1. Ellsbury CF
2. Pedroia 2B
3. Martinez 1B
4. Youkilis 3B
5. Ortiz DH
6. Drew RF
7. Varitek C
8. Reddick LF
9. Green SS

Pitching: RHP Josh Beckett (13-4, 3.27).

Will post updates throughout the game.

Already a hit and stolen base for Ellsbury. Not the start A.J. Burnett wanted.

Update 7:15 PM: A.J. Burnett is lucky he got that double play because he is struggling to find the strike zone. Two four pitch walks to Dustin Pedroia (who slid a little wide of second, maybe retaliation for yesterday's plunking) and Kevin Youkilis. Big batter here in Ortiz

Update 7:17 PM: Whew...that was close. Nice job recovering by Cano who got Ortiz. If Big Papi had been busting it down the line the entire time, he would have been safe. But he only "turned on the jets" after he saw the Cano bobble.

Update 7:20 PM: Some side notes as play goes on because I was a little too busy at work today to post. The Yankees may have seven players hit 20 homeruns. According to Play Index, there's only 3 teams in baseball history to do this: the 1996 Orioles, the 2000 Blue Jays, and the 2005 Rangers. The Yankees have had 6 players two different times: 1961 (Maris, Mantle, Berra, Skowron, Howard and Blanchard) and 2006 (Matsui, A-Rod, Sheffield, Jeter, Williams and Posada).

Update 7:25 PM: Beckett is dealing. A.J. and Beckett are supposedly good friends. Both are throwing gas. Beckett is finding the strike zone.

Update 7:30 PM: There we go, A.J. Less than a 5 minute inning. Gotta love that

Update 7:40 PM: Beckett looks dominant. Yankees may have gotten tired running around the bases yesterday.

A few pregame facts from Kimberly Jones: Damon's 5 HRs this year against the Red Sox are the most for a former BoSox player since Babe Ruth. And A.J. hasn't lost back-to-back starts yet this season.

Also, I was looking at Casey Kotchman's stats. The Mets should absolutely find a way to get him this season. He is a ridiculous hitter in the New York stadiums over his career. Just nuts.

Update 7:45 PM: Great job by Ben posting the John Smoltz information earlier and keeping us all up-to-date. A few links to throw out there. Amy K. Nelson wrote for ESPN that John Smoltz was standing at an uncertain crossroads. Peter Gammons on pitching depth (or lack thereof). Buster Olney on the difficult decision the Red Sox made today to designate Smoltz for assignment. Danny Knobler from CBS Sports said he could see the end in John Smoltz's face before he was DFA'ed today.

Update 7:55 PM: Swisher in the second half: .306/.462/.612. Biggest difference is .355 BAbip vs .263 in first half. I don't think he's as bad as the first half, but I don't know if he's this good. But right now he's on an April-like streak.

Update 8:03 PM: Another great plate appearance there by Swisher. But a bigger GIDP for Beckett. Some more links for you:

• Tyler Kepner has a great piece on John Smoltz
  
• FanGraphs likes the Chad Gaudin pickup but thinks the Yankees should use him as a righty specialist in the bullpen
• Peter Vecsey of the New York Times says that yesterday steroids were a non-issue in the Bronx
• Joel Stein of TIME Magazine says cheating is All-American and great
• The Boston Herald wanted the Red Sox to pull the plug on John Smoltz (a little harsh)
• The Boston Globe says that the Red Sox are heading in the wrong direction
  
• Lisa Olson of AOL FanHouse says that Smoltz's struggles have left the Red Sox in a bind
• Ken Davidoff with some weekend predictions

More later

Update 8:14 PM: Beautiful double play there by the Yankees. For a Yankees/Red Sox game, this one is flying by.

Saying that is probably going to make this a 9-hour game

Update 3:26 AM: What a game. Sorry for the formatting issues that arose. I called the A-rod walkoff in the 9th. Didn't think it would take him a half a game to get there. Both bullpens used to the max so expect CC Sabathia and Clay Buchholz to go as long as they can tomorrow. Can't wait for that game. 4.5 game lead for the Yankees!