It was the big 3-4 for Red Sox pitcher Julian Tavarez, and what better way to celebrate than to put up a big 3-4 (three hits and four walks, that is) in a victory for Boston over the ailing Yankees? On a day when Boston pitchers walked eight Yankees, New York was unable to capitalize and managed to push across just three runs, while the Sox stung Mike Mussina for ten hits and seven runs. Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell each homered, while Boston's surprise relief phenom Hideki Okajima walked two and allowed his first run since he threw his first pitch in the major leagues (which was a homerun for Kansas City catcher John Buck). While Barry Bonds chases the most elusive record in all of sports, two other sluggers are approaching a milestone currently achieved by just four hitters in major league history. Both Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa inched closer to the 600 home-run club today, but neither player could help his team to a victory. Griffey knocked in number 573 and moved to eighth on the all-time list, tied with Harmon Killebrew, but Reds reliever Jon Coutlangus cinched the loss by serving up a eighth inning grand slam to Washington's Felipe Lopez. In Texas, the Rangers have been hot at the plate for the last couple of days, but there's nothing that will put a stop to a hitting streak quite like the best pitcher in the league. Sammy Sosa accounted for the only run against Twins southpaw Johan Santana with his 598th career long-ball, a solo shot in the second inning. The Rangers went on to strike out 18 times in the game (13 against Santana) and allow the Twins to score seven runs, good for a loss in Arlington. It's not everyday that a pitcher bats in more runs than he allows, but that's just what Braves right-hander Kyle Davies did in today's 8-1 win over the Mets. Davies not only pitched a gem, giving up just one run on six hits in an eight inning effort, he also blasted a three run homer off of Mets reliever Aaron Sele in the sixth inning. Video Source: MLB.com
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