Allan James Burnett, now 0-4 8.71 ERA in 8 starts against Boston since his free agent signing with the Yankees, has had FOUR games of 7 or more earned runs when facing the Red Sox.

According to several sources the only Yankee pitcher with more is Red Ruffing, who had FIVE such starts in more than FIFTY starts. Burnett, in comparison has made just EIGHT starts against the Sox so far.

Odd, since A.J. Burnett won 5 games without defeat in the same number of starts against the Sox with Toronto.

In fact his ERA was 2.56, less than the number of runs he gave up in just the first inning yesterday.




The speculation all day on every talk show - radio and TV - had been that he'd put Ortiz on his ass for flipping the bat after his HR on Tuesday [or just for being so comfortable at the plate, ala Gibson, Clemens, et. al.]

Instead, he decided on the olive branch of a grooved pitch for a HR the first time he faced him.