Daisuke Matsuzaka could not do it. Neither could Josh Beckett. Will Curt Schilling take the stopper role for the Boston Red Sox this afternoon and beat the New York Yankees?

While the Yankees beat the Red Sox two best pitchers, they still remain six games behind Boston. Closing to five would be a boost, especially if it means a sweep of the Red Sox and their Big Three on the staff.

For Schilling, this is not only a chance to come through for the sake of the team, but a chance to prove that he is still a big-game pitcher and not just an old guy hanging on.

Since coming back from the DL, Schilling has made four starts, and lasted six innings for each one (a total of 10 earned runs).

But in three starts against the Yankees this year, Schilling has an 7.00 ERA.

Chien-Ming Wang gets the start for New York. He's as good as his sinker. He tends to tire near the end of games, but he went 8 innings in his last start (1 earned run). If that is a sign of his continued improvement, Boston could be in for a sweep.

Speaking of playoff races, the Sea Dogs lead over New Hampshire is now only a half-game. Last regular-season home game tonight at 7.

In Pawtucket on Wednesday, a few former Sea Dogs came through in a 7-6 10-ininng win over Buffalo. George Kottaras hit a three-run homer in the ninth to tie it. In the 10th, Jed Lowrie doubled and scored on Brandon Moss' walk-off single.

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