Storybook Ending To The Yankees Vs Sox Rivalry at The Stadium

If it's drama baseball wants, then look no further than Yankees vs Red Sox games at Yankee Stadium.

And in 2008 in the last game the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox will ever play at the "House That Ruth Built", the girl called Drama didn't go away.

Down 2-0 in the fifth inning thanks to RBIs by Jason Varitek and Jacoby Ellsbury, the Yankees looked lost, frail and, well, swept.

The boos were beginning to buzz around the stadium. Heck, even Michael Kay, the Yankees' broadcaster for the YES network, was even sounding pretty upset. 

The Yankees simply couldn't hit in the clutch on that August afternoon, the same way as they hadn't been able to hit in the clutch during this series - or all season generally. A-Rod swung and missed a lot. So did many other people, as Jon Lester was looking every inch the kid that threw the no-hitter earlier in the season. Mike Mussina was doing his best to keep the score down, but the Yanks simply weren't giving their support - despite the best efforts of singer Ronan Tynan, who gave his Irish tenor voice during "God Bless America".

Until the seventh inning.

With two outs, Cody Ransom - who was only recently called up from Minor League baseball - crushed a ball down the line for a double. On came Jason Giambi. The 'Giambino', with the 'tache back on after a recent slide, crushed reliever Hideki Ojakimi's pitch into the seats in rightfield, and suddenly Yankee Stadium was reignited.

Ben Bruney, Damaso Marte and Mariano Rivera got one out each in the top of the ninth, and all of New York - and Boston - were holding their breaths.

Justin Masterson didn't start the ninth so well, giving up a single to Xavier Nady. After Robinson Cano's pantomime attempts to bunt replacement runner Brett Gardner along gave Boston it's first out, Gardner then took the second bag itself with a steal. Hideki Matsui was intentionally walked. Masterson then managed to infuriate the Boston natives by walked Ivan Rodriguez - yes, that catcher who used to be good but has been below the Mendoza line during his tenure in pinstripes. 

Then came on John Papelbon to face Giambi yet again.

One single later, and the Yankees were celebrating - and the Stadium once again had another classic.

Whether it'll be all in vain come the end of the year is yet to be ascertained, but one thing is for certain: this was a wonderful end to brilliant Stadium rivalry between these two teams.