Manny Ramirez returned to the Red Sox last night, getting a hit and scoring a run in a crucial 7-3 win over the Oakland A's. Hours later, the Yankees lost in extra innings. Now, with five games left in the regular season, the Sox need just three more victories to win the American League East for the first time since 1995.
After skipping 24 games because of a strained muscle in his left side, Manny hit in the two hole for just the seventh time in his 1,995 games in order to get an extra bat he might have missed in his usual No. 4 slot. Curt Schilling got the win, allowing one run over six innings. (More Boston Red Sox stories.)