We always look for someone to blame, don't we? You look at the Red Sox' 2-1 loss in New York yesterday, and immediately start preparing to blame an anemic offense, or timely bad pitching, or something. Well, it doesn't work today; the fact is, the Yankees climbed on the backs of two old war horses and came away with a win that (sigh) they deserved.

Warhorse #1 was Mike Mussina, who looked ready for the glue factory back in April, but who shut down the Sox for six innings of four-hit ball. #2 was Mariano Rivera, who looked like 2002-era Rivera as he wiggled out of a ninth-inning jam to pick up the save.

You can't blame starter Justin Masterson, who pitched a capable six innings (six hits, two runs). You can't blame Manny Ramirez, whose bat was taken out of his hands by three HBPs (it'll be interesting to see if a cancelled check from Dan Shaughnessy to the Yankee pitching staff turns up in the next few days). You can't even - and this is hard - blame Terry Francona for sending up Crisp, Varitek and (sigh) Lugo to try to knock in the go-ahead run with the bases loaded in the ninth. Lugo is hitting .157 with runners in scoring position. We wouldn't have complained if Wakefield went up as a pinch-hitter.

Speaking of Wakefield, he'll take the mound against Joba Chamberlain tonight. As if these Yankee series aren't long enough without always having to kill all day Sunday waiting for the finale.

If you're looking for something to help kill all that time, the Globe does a hard-hitting eye-opening expose of the Sox' laundry room. Also, old friend Rich Garces is now apparently trying to lure MA businesses to New Hampshire. They must have a really good Denny's up there we don't know about. If you're still desperate, and going outside isn't an option, you can always kill three minutes comparing A-Rod/Madonna to Dimaggio/Marilyn. But we wouldn't.