Happy Cinco de Mayo!

On such a joyous Mexican holiday, I really hate to start off with bad news. But I just can’t figure out how or why, but once again, the Blue Jays seem to have Boston’s number. The Sox have already dropped 5 of 8 games against the Jays, with 11 games left to go between these teams this season.

Even with the 7-4 win yesterday, giving Clement his much-needed third win of the season, the Blue Jays continue to be a thorn in Boston’s side. Thankfully the Sox put up a 5-spot right out of the gates, slapping Blue Jay starter Josh Towers around Fenway in the first inning for the quick lead. Towers settled down after that, but ran into trouble again in the sixth, where the Sox plated two more insurance runs. Youkilis had another huge night, going 3-5 with a homer, and Lowell continues his amazing rebound from last season.

The Orioles head into town for the weekend series, bringing with them a former member of the Idiots from 2004, Kevin Millar. Though he didn’t necessarily tear the cover off the ball in his time here, he definitely came through with some big hits and defensive gems over the years. Ask any Sox fan about his contributions, and they’ll spin you a tale of the 2004 ALCS, where Millar drew a key walk off of Yankee closer Mariano Rivera to lead off the bottom of the ninth of Game 4 with the Sox down by a run. That walk set up pinch runner Dave Roberts’ steal of second base (“The Steal”), and eventual scoring on a Bill Mueller single.

Millar was quite a character in the clubhouse, too. Always with a smile on his face, always joking with teammates, always doing whatever he could to get people fired up. He even coined the infamous “Cowboy Up!” catch phrase that became the battle cry for the 2003 Sox. Despite the few times when he said the wrong thing at the wrong time (Doing shots of Jack before a playoff game? Really Kevin?), his motivation and upbeat attitude was infectious, making him a fan favorite. Though universally understood as a necessary move, Red Sox Nation and team members alike were sad to see him go.

If Millar even gets in the game tonight, I fully expect him to get a standing ovation that rivals the mediocre reception Damon received upon his first return to Fenway. Millar was a fan favorite, as was Damon, but didn’t reject an offer from Boston to sign with the Yankees. Millar simply wasn’t re-signed and moved on in the free-agent market. Even if he had been picked up by New York, I doubt he would be booed as bad as Damon, beings as our former center fielder turned his back on a very reasonable offer to stay in Boston.

So tonight, when I’m at Fenway, I will stand and cheer and raise my beer (shot of Jack) to Millar when he’s announced for his first at-bat. Then, I hope Schilling sits him down in three pitches.

Welcome back, Millar!

Not to look ahead too far, but next week takes the Sox into the heart of enemy territory, as they travel to the Bronx for a 3-game set with the Yankees. The Sox took the only game these teams have played so far this season due to a rain-out and those weird two-game “series” scheduling format, so this will be the first true head-to-head battle for first place in the AL East.

And what a battle it will be. Pending any rainouts for either teams, the pitching matchups for the three-game series look like this:

Tuesday: Josh Beckett vs. Jaret Wright
Wednesday: Matt Clement vs. Randy Johnson
Thursday: Curt Schilling vs. Mike Mussina

Our biggest advantage comes Tuesday when Beckett takes the mound opposite Wright. Beckett last saw the Yankees in the 2003 World Series, where he pitched a complete-game shutout in the series-clinching Game 6. Did I mention he did that in Yankee Stadium? Wright hasn’t lasted more than 5 innings in any of his three starts so far, letting four runs plate each time he’s pitched.

Wednesday’s game is a crapshoot, flip-of-the-coin tossup as to which team gets the nod. It all depends on which version of each pitcher shows up that day. Both Clement and Johnson have been Jekyll-and-Hyde so far this season, following up a great outing with one that lasts only a few innings. Clement looked great in his game against the Blue Jays yesterday, while Johnson struggled against them his last outing, giving up 6 runs in 5 innings.

And Thursday brings together staff aces, with Schilling and Mussina taking the ball. Though Mussina has been tough against the Sox, he’s also proved to be very hittable in some games. I’m not sure how accurate my memory is, but I seem to remember him not pitching well against the Sox in Yankee Stadium. Let’s hope I’m right.

Should be a great series, no matter the outcome. Let’s hope Texas gives Alex Rodriguez a rude Welcome Back in the Yankees weekend series, and get the Sox to capitalize on a weak-pitching Orioles club. I’d like to see a game or two cushion before we head to New York.