Another chapter in the history of a rivalry. This one could have been a book on its own.

It started out slowly building the characters, the drama.

First the Wakefield-Mirabelli reunion; the return of Johnny Damon (that in itself sounds like a movie title); the tie game building to a climax (David Ortiz' deep shot in the eighth), then the resolution (Jon Papelbon striking out A-Rod and Jorge Posada for a perfect ninth). Oh what a story!

The waving signs and the money being tossed into centerfield painted the picture: Damon wasn't welcome here anymore. Sure when he was first announced the mixed crowd acknowledged him, he responded with a solemn tip of the hat.

The boo-birds were flying around the park. Throughout the game you could hear the flock chirp. Impressive, considering I was on my couch.

He wasn't the only one getting this type of reception, for him they were simply louder. I could still hear "Baaalcoooo" during Jason Giambi's at-bats. And the crowd got really fired up when Derek Jeter and Damon let a fly ball fall between them in shallow center. Last night, Damon became a Yankee.

The Boston Globe's Jackie MacMullen says all the fuss doesn't much matter to Damon.

She quotes Joe Torre "'I'm a little disappointed in the reaction by the fans," Torre said. ''I guess we should feel proud. Evidently, wearing a Yankee uniform overrides winning a World Series and busting your tail for four years. Without Johnny here, they may have been working on 89 or 90 years."

First of all I don't care a bleep what Torre thinks. Second, it is Damon who has forgotten about his historic efforts and loyalty, not Bostonians. Or has he? N.Y. Post columnist Mike Vaccaro suggests Damon left a lot of his heart and soul in Fenway's dugout.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable in these unfriendly surroundings, Damon when 0-for-4. He seemed bothered as he tried to block the verbal tirade from the stands. Tonight it could be worse.

I didn't waste my energy on the whole Damon thing. He was merely a footnote in this saga. I was focused on the Sox.

Everything seemed to click for the Sox.

Tail wind or no tail wind, Tim Wakefield pitched a gem. He seemed comfortable right from the start. Who could blame him? With Doug Mirabelli as his backstop, the difference was noticeable. The Boston Herald can't remember a time when there was so much ado over a backup catcher.

Mirabelli is no ordinary backup. After a nervous few innings, he adapted quickly and never allowed a runner to advance.

With Mirabelli as his battery mate, Wake used the knuckleball almost exclusively, eluding most bats. Only in the fourth were there signs of trouble. That's when the Yankees put up their only runs.

Considering what it took to get Mirabelli to the ballpark (a plane ride from San Francisco (Padres were on a road trip) to Logan arriving at 6:48 p.m., a police escort through the city arriving at Fenway at 7:07 p.m. and behind the plate at 7:13 p.m.) his performance was impressive. Thanks to the Damon reception he was able to catch his breath for the first pitch of the game.

In an interview before the game on NESN, Kevin Youkilis explained that the Yankee-Red Sox rivalry didn't mean much to the players. It was more of a fan thing he explained. The Sox want to win every game, he said.

While that may be true, suddenly the once dormant offense was present again. They got favorable pitch counts. They were patient. Wily Mo Pena didn't strikeout.

With the power-shift on, Big Papi hit two opposite field singles. And, well what can you say about the home run, a feat magnified considering the wind. NJ.com's headline reads simply Ortiz strikes again; NY Posts reads Big Papi's blast buries Bombers (something about a New York newspaper using "Big Papi" in the headline bothers me)

Because he started an inning instead of mopping up someone else's mess, Mike Timlin was dominant. And Papelbon has yet to give up a run.

The Yankees are now 4-8 away from the safety of the Dark Star. Let's hope the trend continues.

Tonight another chapter unfolds. Josh Beckett will fire the sphere for the Sox against his 2003 World Series opponents. The Yankees and their fans don't need to be reminded but just in case. The Globe says Beckett would like throwback and Newsday writes Oh no, not Beckett again.

I hope Beckett rekindles his World Series magic and writes another dramatic storyline.

I'll be watching. Go Sox!

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