Did we imagine it, or did Yankee fans own Fenway last night?

A five-run deficit in the 3rd inning sure can Sylvia Plath a home crowd. Take last night: You were not reliving some pre-2004, purple haze flashback: Yank fans were actually overwhelming their "Hub" counterparts, right in the Fenway frat house. 

While a sweep would certainly be gratifying, capping one of the greatest first-halves in Yankee history, let's not be greedy. A gracious winner knows when to ease his toes from the pedal, and Lord knows how kindly Redsock fans have treated us in recent years, when the Yanks faltered. These pillars of sportsmanship would always extend the welcoming hand of friendship, shouting "FUCK YOU" in the way that zoo chimps fling their feces at tourists- purely in tribute. 

Of course, we cannot let up, not in any way. Last night, even with a five-run lead and an emasculated home crowd, who among us did not fear the absolute worst? It's engrained into us. We cannot forget last July, when the Yankees were poised to enter the all star break on the most joyous note in the last entire decade.

We were sweeping the Astro cheaters in Houston, following two shutouts - one started by Nasty Nestor, the other a complete game by Gerrit Cole. Now, we led game three by a 7-2 score in the ninth. Mean Chad Green came in to finish them off.

He retired one batter. That's all. Nobody could meltdown like Mean Chad. In the end, Jose Altuve hit a 3-run, walk-off HR, and whatever momentum the Yankees had heading into the break, it vanished with that gopher ball. We've had ninth-inning PTSD ever since. 

If the Yankees do take this series, or merely split it - and if they avoid some stunning, out-of-body meltdown, they will enter the all star break with a lead of around 14 games. Do the math. It will be almost impossible for any AL East team to catch them. (And aside from the Yankees, the hottest team in the division is... Baltimore!)

There are reasons to believe at least a few Yankees will improve in the second half. 

Giancarlo Stanton should hit higher than .237. Same with Anthony Rizzo, who - for all his power numbers - should do better than .223.  DJ LeMahieu is hitting .263; that's below his standards. We can imagine Josh Donaldson hitting more than 8 HRs. And Aaron Hicks, who is batting .400 over his last seven games. Let's not even worry about Joey Gallo, who is probably in his final days as a Yankee. 

The fear, of course, is innings. Our pitching staff is reaching its career limits. How far can Luis Severino, Nestor Cortez and Jameson Tailion go before the sheer volume of workload - far greater than they've known in the past - takes its toll? Same with the bullpen. If the Yankees have any trade chips, they will need to fortify their pitching staff - perhaps even more than dealing for a corner outfielder.

Last night, right in Fenway, the Yankee fans came through. We had John and Suzyn broadcasting from Boston; how many times will that happen again? (Said The Master: "I mean, Cole is a great pitcher, and Devers absolutely owns him, OWNS HIM!" Later, he said, jubilantly, "I'm repeating myself so much this year.")

And tonight, in Fenway, we must be loud. Early leads - they sure are fun, eh?