New York Yankees defeat Boston Red Sox, 8-7

For the better part of four hours, it was a raucous house party.

Then it turned into Black Friday.

Five runs ahead and six outs away from taking a decisive step to their first division title in a dozen years, the Red Sox were brought to their knees by a hail of Yankee hits in a six-run eighth inning that leveled Hideki Okajima, and most shocking of all, closer Jonathan Papelbon, in an 8-7 loss that seemingly turned in a New York minute.

Rather than having to work ...