Pitching RHP Tim Wakefield in Game 2 of the series clearly optimizes the Red Sox's chances for success. Boston's offense has proven capable of providing substantial run support for their pitchers, and should even have been able to cover for the two runs resulting from 2B-L Todd Walker's throwing error.

The Red Sox lost Game One of the Boston/Oakland Series when they weren't able to drive in the runners who reached base. In yesterday's game, Boston only had a total of eight baserunners. LHP Barry Zito went seven innings, compiling a 9:2 K:BB with 5 hits allowed. He'd thrown 113 pitches through seven, so Oakland handed the ball over to setup man RHP Chad Bradford and then closer RHP Keith Foulke. Foulke, who must have been tired after throwing three innings the night before, wobbled a little, but the A's four run lead was never really in danger.

All of the scoring in the game took place in the bottom of the second and top of the third. Oakland jumped onto the board, putting up five runs in the bottom of the second. While 1B-L Scott Hatteberg grounded out to first to open the inning, LF-R Jose Guillen walked, advanced to second on a passed ball, and scored on a C-R Ramon Hernandez single to right. Wakefield then hit RF-R Jermaine Dye with a pitch, so that when CF-R Eric Byrnes doubled into left both Hernandez and Dye were able to score. 2B-R Mark Ellis took a walk, but DH-L Erubiel Durazo grounded out to first. Consequently, if 2B-L Todd Walker had cleanly fielded the grounder hit to him by 3B-L Eric Chavez and made a good throw to first, the A's only would have had a three run lead going into the third. However, Walker struggled to capture the ball and then let loose a wild throw that went wide of first base towards the dugout, allowing both Byrnes and Ellis to score.

C-R Doug Mirabelli and CF-L Johnny Damon put together back-to-back double to give the Red Sox a run in the top of the third, but that was the only run Boston was able to score in the game. After winning 5-1, Oakland now leads the five game series 2-0. However, taking the final game needed to win the series in Fenway should not be easy for the A's.

The Yankees opened Game 2 of their series with three singles and a sac fly to put an early run on the board. However, the single run didn't appear to trouble the Twins. In the second inning, OF-L Jacque Jones toyed with LHP Andy Pettitte, backing away from him down the first base line rather than running straight into an inevitable tag. Announcer Joe Buck took it upon himself to provide the audience with trivial facts about the Twins' players, as he felt viewers were not sufficiently familiar with the club. During the nationally televised broadcast, he even went so far as to post the phone number for A.J.'s Country Kitchen in Anola, Manitoba, which purportedly is the favorite restaurant of Anola native Corey Koskie. Buck then seemed surprised when he tried to call (204) 866-4266 and the line was busy. The score remained unchanged through the next three innings with both pitchers keeping the bases fairly clear.

OF-R Torii Hunter led off the fifth with a homer just over the centerfield fence. However, Pettitte quickly recovered from the mistake and resumed his assault on the Minnesota offense. He left the game following the seventh, as he'd thrown 111 pitches, while compiling a 10:3 K:BB with 4 H and the 1 HR allowed.

RHP Brad Radke went out for the seventh, but Minnesota decided to pull him after he hit 1B-L Nick Johnson and allowed OF-R Juan Rivera to advance Johnson to second on a sac bunt. RHP LaTroy Hawkins came on in relief and gave up a single to 2B-R Alfonso Soriano, which gave the Yankees a one run lead. SS-R Derek Jeter then hit a grounder to Hawkins that should have advanced Soriano to second while resulting in an out at first, but Hawkins made a bad throw to first, which 1B-L Doug Mientkiewicz wasn't able to stop, so Soriano went to third and Jeter was safe at second. Consequently, when Giambi singled into center, both Soriano and Jeter scored, giving New York a three run lead. While LHP J.C. Romero relieved Hawkins and successfully ended the inning, Minnesota was not able to generate any additional runs and the Yankees evened the series at one.