Alex Rodriguez Comes Up Clutch Again for New York Yankees in a Classic

As if a Yankees-Red Sox game needed anymore dramatics. Friday night's game provided just that. The second of a four game series was billed as a pitcher's duel between A.J. Burnett and Josh Beckett. Both performed up to expectations like advertised. Burnett went 7 2/3 innings, allowed one hit and no runs, walked six and struck out six with a no decision. But when he departed in the eighth inning, Yankee Stadium gave him a tremendous standing ovation and a deserved one for Burnett, who pitched his guts out. This was the A.J. Burnett the Yankees were paying the big five-year contract for. The same Burnett who destroyed the Red Sox his entire career showed up Thursday night again to shut them down. Now for Boston, Beckett was just as good. He went seven solid innings, allowed four hits, no runs, walked two and struck out seven and also got a no decision. Love him or hate him, Beckett is one of the best in the game when the pressure is on and the game is huge. His performance ...