It doesn't take long, does it? All the Sox needed were three chances to whup the Mariners, and the bitter taste of the sweep in Anaheim is gone.

True, the Sox did clock a little overtime yesterday, but the end result was a satisfying 6-3, 12 inning win. The Sox loaded the bases in the top of the twelfth on an Ellsbury single, a JD Drew walk, and an error. Mike Lowell brought two home with a single, and Sean Casey drove in an insurance run. The three runs made a winner of Jonathan Papelbon, but the big story out of the bullpen was Justin Masterson, making his relief debut and looking fantastic. Thank God. Manny Ramirez took the day off with a sore knee, probably not from walking the streets of Seattle.

So the Sox are off today and host the Yankees tomorrow. David Ortiz will be back, finally. The Yankees have rattled off six in a row since the break, torching Oakland and Minnesota. Raise your hand if you're surprised. Didn't think so. Of course, with NY in town and Manny being in the news, Dan Shaughnessy doesn't even have to pretend to break a sweat.

Whatever happens with Manny, at least the Sox' internal problems have nothing on the insanity going on in Milwaukee right now.

The Bruins made a surprising and sad move yesterday, waiving Glen Murray. Murray came up with the B's, got traded around a bit (as all hockey players do) and has been back in Boston since 2001. But he's expensive, and everyone thinks that he'll clear waivers and the B's will just buy his contract out. They did, however, sign defenseman Dennis Wideman to an extension.

The Patriots are in camp today (assuming they haven't been hit by lightning). If you're prepared to move on from last season's disaster, there are previews by Karen Guregian, Mike Reiss, and Shalisa Manza Young. If you're not ready yet, we understand.