A POWERFUL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM

May 31, 2007 ... No game scheduled ... The Red Sox are coming off one of their best months in memory, a 20-8 May in which seven players batted better than .300 and five players had an on-base percentage of .400 or better. Kevin Youkilis takes a 22-game hitting streak into June.  He led the Sox in hits, runs, RBIs, and doubles last month, and tied Mike Lowell for most home runs with six. His batting average of .402 was eclipsed only by the rookie second baseman, Dustin Pedroia, who batted .415, had an on-base percentage of .472, and with six doubles and two home runs crafted a .600 slugging percentage. In a month's time, Pedroia silenced the debate over whether he belongs here.

Lowell has hit safely in his last 22 games at Fenway Park, while Jason Varitek, who turned 35 in the season's first week, delivered a strong month at the plate - .311, 3 HRs, 17 RBIs, .416 OBP, .541 SGP.

The Sox pitching staff is the oldest in the American League (average age 32; the Yankees, at 30.4, are the only other AL staff over 30), but the collective ERA of 3.71 is second in the league. Josh Beckett missed two weeks with torn skin on his middle finger, but remains unbeaten at 8-0. Daisuke Matsuzaka has an ERA just under 5.00 (4.83) but has seven wins and isn't likely to be upstaged by Okajima all summer. Curt Schilling and Tim Wakefield have five wins apiece, Schilling coming off a dominating start against the Indians, while Okajima's 1.05 is tied for the best relief ERA in the league, an unshakable bridge to closer Jonathan Papelbon (1.86, 13 of 14 in save opportunities).

J.D. Drew continues to struggle in right field (.171 in May, no home runs in his last 29 games and 101 at-bats, the longest drought on the team), while Julio Lugo knocked in 21 runs last month despite a horrific on-base average of .241. Overall, Lugo's leadoff on-base average of .291 is the third worst in the league (former Sox prospect Hanley Ramirez leads the majors at .425). Center fielder Coco Crisp has been dazzling with his glove, but only intermittently at the plate (.224, .303 OBP in May).

There are fault lines. Kyle Snyder has emerged as a dependable reliever (0.79 ERA in nine relief appearances last month) and lefthander Javier Lopez has been terrific since his recall from Pawtucket, but J.C. Romero is walking people again (9 in his last 5 IP), and Joel Pineiro is getting hit (7.15 ERA, .313 BA against in May). With Mike Timlin trying to rebound from a shoulder strain in Pawtucket, should Okajima suddenly morph into a middling reliever, the Sox might have a tougher time protecting leads (they are 30-1 when leading after seven innings).

Mike Timlin pitched a perfect seventh inning for Pawtucket against the Columbus Clippers last night, throwing 12 pitches, eight for strikes. In three Triple A appearances in his latest rehab stint for a strained shoulder, Timlin has pitched 3 2/3 innings, giving up five hits, three walks, and three earned runs.