Here’s the recap of the Yankees’ 6-2 win over the Red Sox, which resulted in the first 20 win season in Mike Mussina’s career. 

From the Sox clubhouse, the outcome was irrelevant, but a few individual performances had significance. Foremost was the return of J.D. Drew, who played seven innings and went 0-for-2 with a strikeout and double play grounder while also chasing down a couple flyballs in right.

“He did pretty well,” said manager Terry Francona. “He got a little stiff at the end. Made a nice running catch. Looked like he moved around in the outfield. Got down the line pretty well. I don’t doubt he could have stayed in the game. I didn’t see a reason to do that. I think we’re encouraged. Our next step will be to see how he’s able to bounce back. It was encouraging.”

Jonathan Papelbon had a poor final tuneup for the playoffs. The Sox closer gave up four hits and three runs over 33 pitches in his inning of work, and kicked a water cooler in the dugout afterwards. Though NESN cameras caught Papelbon rubbing his kicking foot, he said that there was no injury.

Rain produced a slippery mound and made it difficult to get a grip on the ball, but Papelbon believed that inclement conditions were not solely responsible for his struggle. 

“Everything is soaking wet. Obviously, you’ve got to do what you can, but it’s still no excuse for me not to go out there and get outs,” said Papelbon, who spoke in a despondent whisper. “(The weather) affects your routine because every other ball you’d get, you’d go through three rosin bags. Your routine has to be altered, but that’s no excuse for me not to throw the ball well…

“It’s frustrating. Just a frustrating weekend in general. I feel fine. My body feels fine. I’m happy to get out of that without an injury, pretty much.”

Dustin Pedroia went 2-for-4 to improve his average to .326, but with Joe Mauer going 2-for-5 to maintain his .330 average, it looks like the Sox second baseman will lose the batting title. He didn’t seem to mind.

“I’m not real big into personal achievements like that,” he said. “I’ve had a great season. If I finish second or third, I’m real happy with that.”

Daisuke Matsuzaka, who allowed three runs in four innings, was non-plussed about being told before the game that he would only throw three to four innings. (“I would have rather not been told before that I would be going for three or four innings,” he said.) All the same, he was satisfied with the purpose behind his final tuneup for the postseason.

“I needed to pitch in the game today so I was going to go in even if it was for one inning. We even talked abut the possibility of me going in relief just to get those innings,” said Matsuzaka. “Today was preparation for the playoffs and it was just great that I was able to throw in the game. I didn’t have any goals today but just to be able to throw in the game with how the weather has been was enough for me.”