Boston @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( May 31, 2013 ) Boston 1, NY Yankees 4

The New York Yankees snapped a five-game slide and pulled within a game of the Boston Red Sox for first place in the American League East by taking the series opener. They will attempt to draw even when they host the rival Red Sox again on Saturday. New York got Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis back on Friday and is hoping the lineup enhancements will spark the team moving forward.

Teixeira went 0-for-3 with a run scored and Youkilis drove in a run against his former team on Friday as the Yankees managed a 4-1 victory. That marked the seventh straight game in which New York had been held to four or fewer runs. Boston was missing leadoff hitter Jacoby Ellsbury (groin), who had been on a hot streak before being scratched from the lineup and is day-to-day.

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Felix Doubront (3-2, 5.29 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Phil Hughes (2-3, 4.97)

Doubront is winless in his last five appearances but has been solid in his last three turns. The 25-year-old has yielded five or fewer hits and two earned runs in each of his last three outings, though none have lasted more than six innings. He is 1-1 with a 2.73 ERA in eight career games (four starts) against New York.

Hughes has bounced back from a disastrous outing with two straight strong starts, though a lack of support has kept him out of the win column. The right-hander has surrendered three runs - all on solo homers - in 13 innings over his last two outings. Hughes faced Boston four times in 2012 and went 3-1 with a 2.03 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia went 3-for-4 on Friday but had his four-game RBI streak come to an end.

2. Youkilis is batting .357 with four RBIs in seven games against his former team.

3. Boston rookie Jackie Bradley Jr. will man center field until Ellsbury returns.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 5, Yankees 3