Yankees 'embarrased'

Chris Smith (1-0, 2.84 ERA) was optioned to Pawtucket.

Coco returns

Coco Crisp (2-for-3, two runs scored) returned from a five-gamesuspension, a layoff that the center fielder said got real boringreal fast.

"I wasn't able to see the (Tampa Bay) game on television, theydidn't have it on at the hotel, so I pretty much stayed in my room,"said Crisp, who was suspended for instigating a brawl with the Rayslast month.

He did order one good movie ("Never Back Down"), but too muchroom service, too much time playing computer games and too much timelying in bed left him walking like some 80-year-olds, he said.

By being able to take batting practice, he was able to staysharp.

His manager appreciated his return.

"You kind of feel it - all of a sudden you look up and you don'thave as many players as you're used to and you feel like you'replaying short-handed," Francona said. . . .

Manny Ramirez ended an 0-for-12 funk with a single in the fifth.It was Ramirez' 100th regular-season game at Yankee Stadium, makinghim the sixth player to play 100 here since the ballpark wasremodeled in 1976. . . .

Jason Varitek ended an 0-for-19 skid with an RBI single in theeighth. . . .

Brandon Moss came in as a defensive substitution for rightfielder J.D. Drew in the ninth. Francona said he made the switch toget Moss playing time, not because Drew injured himself catching aJorge Posada fly ball against the wall in the seventh. . . .

Jon Lester now has wins in his last four decisions.

Clay staying

Francona said there is no timetable for Clay Buchholz' return tothe majors. Inserting him into the rotation, possibly in the spot ofJustin Masterson, may happen some day but that could be after theAll-Star break.

The right-hander currently is pitching for Pawtucket.

"Clay obviously, hopefully, is a star in the making," Franconasaid. "We want to get Clay ironed out. I think sometimes looking atthe big picture is more important than looking at the small picture.Clay is on his way to doing exactly what he needs to do."

The team likely will use the All-Star break as an opportunity totweak the rotation, be it by reordering the setup and/or reinsertingBuchholz into it.

A-Rod being A-Rod Girardi on the circus surrounding Alex Rodriguez, whose privatelife is under the microscope, with rumors of dalliances with Madonnaand the breakup of his marriage: "I think for Alex, he's beenthrough it enough, I think he knows how to handle it and obviouslyI'm sure there's times he wishes he could just kind of fit in.That's the price you pay when you're such a good player, and youlearn how to handle it, and I think he's learned how to handle itover the years. You just have to make sure you're able to enjoy yourlife. People are always going to want something."

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