Texas Rangers pitcher and Yankee-killing mercenary Cliff Lee gave his team a 2-1 lead in the ALCS last night after totally skullf:cking the Yankees high-priced lineup. Lee took the mound to start Game 3 and went eight innings, striking out 13 and surrendering only two hits. And as if that wasn’t enough, the Rangers scored six runs in the ninth inning to lock up the win.

From a career of humble beginnings, he’s starting to run with men such as Koufax, as Gibson, as Hershiser. At 32, Lee reached his prime just as his ballclubs began reaching October, and the result is eight playoff starts, seven wins and a 1.26 ERA. Over three starts and 24 innings this postseason alone, he’s let in two runs, struck out 34 and walked one.

I get that if you want to field a team in New York City and expect people to come out to see it, you have to get elite talent, just like Broadway acquires the best stage actors, or how Skeezy Pete’s on 145th Street gets the finest hos. So I’m not bothered by the $200-million-plus payroll that the Yankees have. But that won’t stop me from waving that number in the faces of Yankees fans if their team doesn’t reach the World Series. Stop laughing, Phillies fan. You’re next…

Red Sox fans live to front-run another day after rallying from a 7-0 deficit in the bottom of the seventh to win, culminating in a JD Drew single in the bottom of the ninth that scored Kevin Youkilis. The Red Sox now only trail the Rays by a single game as the series returns to Tampa Bay on Saturday. Meaning that the Rays will blow these next two games and the Sawks will be as insufferable as ever. Why do you do this to me, baseball?

[Yahoo! Sports]

Hey look! Back to back posts about Tribe pitchers! I can tell you're excited sexy readers, as are the denizens of Red Sox nation who've watched their beloved nine return from a 3 games to 1 deficit to even the ALCS.  Fausto Carmona pitched his way to a robust ERA of 31.50 for the outing as the Carmine hitters unfairly waited for him to throw strikes and then hit grand slams when he did.  What did Fausto expect? A happy ending?  That's not likely when you're named after two of the greatest operatic tragedies in history.  Sticking random vowels at the end of your name won't change the fact that you're screwed in the final act.  Anyway, here's some highlights from the game: 

Ah, the non-ephemeral comedy of Adam Sandler has a timeless quality, doesn't it? (For more ALCS videos click here and here.) -KD