Boston @ New York preview
Yankee Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2010 ) Boston 7, NY Yankees 3
While the odds of the Boston Red Sox catching the New York Yankees in the wild-card standings are still very bleak, they are making New York’s postseason run a little bit more difficult.
The Red Sox defeated the Yankees for the second straight day on Saturday. Boston goes for the sweep Sunday night at Yankee Stadium.
New York has lost four straight games and trails Tampa Bay by 1 ½ games in the American League East. The Yankees are also fading in the race for the league’s best record, which carries with it home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs.
Jon Lester dominated the Yankees on Saturday on the way to a 7-3 win. Lester (19-8) won his sixth consecutive start by allowing just two hits while striking out eight. He retired the first 12 batters he faced and struck out eight while walking three.
The Red Sox, which trail the Yankees by 5 1/2 games in the wild card standings, scored three times in the third inning off New York starter Ivan Nova (1-1) and never looked back.
The Yankees ended Lester’s no-hit bid with one out in the sixth inning on a line drive by Francisco Cervelli that eluded the grasp of diving left fielder Daniel Nava.
Boston put the game away in the seventh inning on back-to-back homers by J.D. Drew and Victor Martinez.
Curtis Granderson continued his torrid pace for New York with his 23rd homer of the season, a two-run shot in the eighth inning. Alex Rodriguez hit a solo shot, his 28th, in the ninth for the Yankees.
With its recent woes, New York may want to rethink its decision to start Dustin Moseley (4-3) in the series finale. Yankees manager Joe Girardi decided earlier in the week to skip Phil Hughes’ turn in the rotation in an attempt to limit his innings down the stretch.
But four straight losses have led to a growing concern in the Bronx. Moseley, however, is 2-0 lifetime against the Red Sox, including a 7-2 victory earlier in the year.
Boston goes with Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-6) in the series finale. Matsuzaka is 3-3 in his career against New York with a woeful 6.63 ERA. He’s faced them just one this season, earning a no-decision in an 11-9 loss.
Matsuzaka has struggled throwing strikes most of the season. He’s walked 13 batters in last three starts and is 0-2 over that stretch.
Today’s game is the final game of the regular season at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees head to Toronto before the Red Sox host New York in another three-game set that will conclude the regular season next week.