We'll just say pitching was a factor in the Sox-Yankees game last night in New York. To be more specific, the Red Sox pitching - and complete breakdown thereof - allowed the Yanks to run amok, and while the Sox got plenty of offense, it wasn't enough, as the Sox got smacked 15-9.

Bobby Abreu and Alex Rodriguez homered off Clay Buchholz in the first to give NY a 2-1 lead. There was a little back and forth, and finally the Sox felt pretty good after a parade of 5th-inning singles gave them a 9-7 lead. (Clay was long gone by then, throwing 85 pitches in less than four innings). But the Bombers bombed back, tagging Julian Tavarez and the remains of Mike Timlin for four runs apiece. Every Yankee starter got a hit and scored a run. It wasn't pretty.

We really wanted to use the headline, "We're All Stars Now In The Powe Show", but there will be time for that later on. Doc rolled out the starters for cameos (except Rajon Rondo, who looked sharp in a suit as he picked up his Sullivan Tire Sixth Star Award), then let the bench guys handle the Nets. Leon Powe did most of the work, notching 11 rebounds and a career-high 27 points. Tony Allen chipped in 18 and a fantastic block of Jersey's Maurice Ager.

It was Fan Appreciation Night at the TDBNG, and Paul Pierce got to address the crowd before the game. ""The last 2-3 years I have promised you better days...we got better days now, man." Those better days will kick off on Sunday night and Wednesday as the C's host Atlanta in Games One and Two. And congratulations to Doc, the Coach of the Month for April. On ESPN, Bill Simmons shocks the world (not really) with his choice for league MVP. We couldn't agree more.

The Bruins will try to stay alive in Montreal tonight. After playing their hearts out for three games and coming away with just one win, we'll have to see if there's anything left in the tank. At least they were spared the indignity of being the first NHL playoff team sent home; that ignoble honor went to Ottawa, who got swept by the Penguins.

TONIGHT: The Bruins, obviously, and Josh Beckett against Mike Mussina in New York. The Onion is reporting that the Yankees are burying Bernie Williams under the new stadium to turn their fortunes around.