Varitek

NEW YORK - John Olerud underwent a magnetic resonance imaging exam on his left foot yesterday, and New York Yankees manager Joe Torre said the first baseman injured in Game 3 wouldn't be available for the rest of the American League Championship Series, and that his availability for the World Series was in doubt. "We'll have to wait for the results (of the MRI)," Torre said. Torre has said he will not put Jason Giambi on the playoff roster, even with Olerud injured. Giambi went 4-for-33 after returning from a long absence with a benign tumor, and he's still not strong enough to play regularly.

Boston first baseman Kevin Millar said Red Sox players did shots of Jack Daniel's whiskey before Game 6 of the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees, according to a report on ESPN.com. Millar also said, because it worked, they did it before every World Series game. He made his comments on Fox's The Best Damn Sports Show Period and on Boston's Channel 4. "It was one of those group team things, like shaving our heads last year," Millar said. "What we had was one small Gatorade cup, with a little Jack Daniel's in it. We passed it around and everyone symbolically drank out of the same cup, because we are a team.

BaseballBlue Jays: Reassigned C Jeff Ladd and P Jimmy Rogers to minor-league camp. Optioned C Julio Mosquera to Single-A Dunedin. Optioned P Jose Silva to Double-A Knoxville.Mariners: Optioned P Scott Davison, P Tim Harikkala, P Derek Lowe, IF Desi Relaford and IF Arquimedez Pozo to Triple-A Tacoma and IF Giomar Guevara to Double-A Port City. Reassigned P Greg McCarthy, P Trey Moore, P Matt Wagner, P Greg Wooten, C Jason Varitek, OF Jose Cruz Jr., OF Lee Heath and OF Shane Monahan to minor-league camp.

At Fenway Park, Boston Day...Time...TV...Starters Tonight...7:05...No TV...Jason Johnson (10-8, 3.91) vs. Jeff Suppan (2-3, 5.65) Tomorrow...7:05...CSN...Eric DuBose (3-5, 3.86) vs. Tim Wakefield (11-7, 4.14) Wednesday...7:05...CSN...Pat Hentgen (6-8, 4.09) vs. John Burkett (11-8, 4.84) Thursday...7:05...CSN...Omar Daal (4-10, 5.77) vs. Derek Lowe (16-7, 4.56) Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) Red Sox update This is the Red Sox's last home series of the regular season. They continue to lead the AL wild-card race, their margin over the Seattle Mariners at 2 1/2 games.

The game ended with a heart-stopping play at home plate, leaving the Boston Red Sox as perplexed about their bullpen as the Orioles are about starting pitcher Sidney Ponson. Seemingly finished by Ponson's early struggles, the Orioles mounted a furious ninth-inning rally last night against Red Sox reliever Ramiro Mendoza. With two outs, Geronimo Gil doubled into the left-center-field gap, and once again Boston's closer-by-committee approach seemed to hang in the balance. Melvin Mora scored from third, and Deivi Cruz raced around the bases from first, representing the tying run. Orioles third base coach Tom Trebelhorn, whose arms looked like a windmill throughout the inning, sent Cruz home and held his breath.

BOSTON - This isn't the first time this year the Boston Red Sox have felt their shoulders pinned against the mat by the heavyweight New York Yankees. This isn't the first time they've heard Red Sox Nation gasp. Trailing 2-0 in the American League Championship Series, and heading into Game 3 tonight at Fenway Park with mounting concerns, the Red Sox are in an all-too familiar position. They are desperate, yet still determined, and they know it's about time somebody stuck a big fat mitt in some pretty-boy Yankee's face.

Now that they know manager Tony La Russa, pitching coach Dave Duncan and batting coach Mark McGwire all are coming back, the Cardinals are shifting their focus to upgrading their infield. Miguel Tejada is on their radar as they look to improve at two of three spots among second, short and third. … Retirement talk by Bengie Molina (right) isn't being taken seriously by many people, although the Rangers catcher insists he doesn't know if he will play in 2011.

AMERICAN LEAGUE Who's hot Jim Thome of the Indians has an extra-base hit in eight straight games, with seven homers in that span. Who's not The Tigers have lost nine of their past 10 games. Line of the day Jorge Posada, Yankees catcher AB R H RBI HR 4 2 3 5 2 NATIONAL LEAGUE Who's hot Pat Burrell of the Phillies has a 14-game hitting streak. Who's not The Dodgers have won only three of their past 14 games away from home. Line of the day Vladimir Guerrero, Expos right fielder AB R H RBI HR 5 3 4 6 1 AMERICAN LEAGUE He said it He said it "I always felt I would live and die with my knuckleball.

AL EAST W-L GB New York 94-66 - Boston 94-66 - Red Sox beat Yankees, 5-3, in Boston. Jason Varitek homered, David Ortiz drove in a run and David Wells pitched seven strong innings. Red Sox bullpen pitched two innings of one-hit, scoreless relief. Rivals play again today at 1:20 p.m. AL WILD CARD W-L GB N.Y./Boston 94-66 - Cleveland 93-67 1 Indians lost to visiting White Sox, 3-2, in 13 innings. Ross Gload hit two-run double in 13th off rookie Fernando Cabrera to propel AL Central champions.