Boston @ New York preview
Yankee Stadium
Last Meeting ( May 17, 2010 ) Boston 9, NY Yankees 11
The Boston Red Sox began the toughest part of their season's schedule Monday with a .500 record. They'd probably be glad to finish the daunting 10-game stretch at the same mark.
The Red Sox play the second and final contest of a two-game series at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night. New York shocked Boston by hitting a pair of two-run homers in the ninth inning off closer Jonathan Papelbon to win the opener, 11-9, on Monday.
Boston hopes that Josh Beckett can stop its three-game losing streak. It will be a tall order.
The last time Beckett pitched was nearly two weeks ago against the Yankees at Fenway Park. Beckett was dominant at some times and awful at others. He ended up striking out eight batters but imploded in the sixth and final inning of his outing.
Beckett yielded nine runs on nine hits. He ended his outing by hitting two batters in the sixth inning and nine of the last 10 men he faced reached base in the Yankees' 10-3 win.
After the start, the Red Sox decided to move Beckett's next appearance back a couple days so he could throw a side session. But that plan was postponed when Beckett suffered back spasms while taking batting practice for the upcoming interleague series.
Beckett finally threw 55 pitches on Saturday and declared himself ready to return. It is ironic that his next start will be against the Yankees.
Tuesday's game is the second of a stretch of 10 straight games the Red Sox will play against teams with winning records above .600. They are 3-11 in such games on the season.
CC Sabathia will start for the Yankees, who have won seven of their last eight games at home and turned the classic rivalry into a one-sided affair. New York has beaten Boston 14 of the last 17 times the two teams have played including Monday's shocking come-from-behind win against Papelbon.
Sabathia took the loss in his last outing, surrendering nine hits and six runs in a 6-0 loss to Detroit.
While the Yankees continue their winning ways, they have been hit with a rash of injuries.
Designated hitter Nick Johnson will undergo surgery on his wrist Tuesday and will be out until after the All-Star break. Johnson, who was acquired in the offseason from the Washington Nationals, was off to a miserable start at the plate, hitting just .164. He has had trouble with the same wrist for several years.
Veteran catcher Jorge Posada is questionable for the Tuesday's game after fouling a ball off his right foot on Sunday. Francisco Cervelli started Monday's game and went 2-for-4 and scored three times. And outfielder Nick Swisher missed Monday's game with soreness in his biceps.
Boston outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury began his rehab assignment at Pawtucket Monday. Ellsbury went 1-for-3 in the game. There is no timetable for his return.
Mike Cameron's comeback has been setback by tenderness in his lower abdomen. Cameron had hoped to return to the series against the Yankees, but that won't happen.