I've spent the last few hours checking to see if there were any pigs flying about in my neighborhood after the Yankees just scored 8 runs for Andy Pettite. The Yanks got to Curt Schilling early and often, scoring in each of the first four innings en route to an 8-3 victory in the rubber match of a three-game set against the Red Sox.

The Yankees jumped ahead 3-0 in the first via an RBI single by Jeter and a two-run laser home run by Hideki Matsui. Jeter added another RBI base hit in the 2nd and Posada did the same in the 3rd. Doug Mientkiewicz put the Yankees up 6-0 in the 4th with a home run off the upper deck facade in right field.

That would be enough for Andy Pettite, who was a rock yet again for the Yankees. You'd think an E.R.A. of 2.66 would get you a few wins for the Yankees but tonight's victory puts Andy Pettite at a mediocre 3-3 on the season. This time Pettite allowed 9 hits, but only one came around to score and he struck out two in a stellar 7-inning performance.

Kyle Farnsworth came in with a 6-1 lead in the 8th and gave up two runs on a solo shot by Coco Crisp and a double by Mike Lowell, and was actually booed pretty heavily at the Stadium. Mariano Rivera finished the game, striking out the side in a scoreless ninth.

Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon and Doug Mientkiewicz all had three hits and Matsui and Cano added two hits each as well. The only Yankee without a hit was Jason Giambi. Jeter's second hit put him ahead of Joe DiMaggio for 5th on the Yankees' all-time hit list (now at 2,216).

Normally, going 3-3 in a six-game stretch against the rival Mets and Red Sox would be satisfactory but even after taking two of three from Boston the Yanks have only gained a half game on them since Friday. On the bright side, the Yankees have won 3 of 4 against two teams other than the Rangers and Mariners and finally seem to be clicking a bit.

This weekend's series against the Angels should be interesting. It will be the third straight series for the Yankees against a first-place team. First game is Friday at 7:05 E.T. and will feature an interesting pitching matchup as Tyler Clippard tries to expand upon his very successful debut and will face the young Jered Weaver.