Boston @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 1, 2013 ) Boston 11, NY Yankees 1

The Boston Red Sox showed off their offense in evening the series with the New York Yankees on Sunday. With Clay Buchholz and Hiroki Kuroda matched up in the finale, runs might be a little harder to come by when the Yankees host the Red Sox on Sunday night. New York has struggled to score for the last week and has dropped six of its last seven.

The Yankees have been held to four or fewer runs in each of the last eight games and have managed only one in four of those contests, including Saturday’s 11-1 drubbing. That victory guaranteed that Boston, which is enjoying a two-game lead, would finish the series in first place in the American League East. The Red Sox have scored at least nine runs in each of their last three victories.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Clay Buchholz (7-0, 1.73 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Hiroki Kuroda (6-3, 2.39)

Buchholz has been off since May 22 after suffering a sprained AC joint near his collarbone. The AL’s ERA leader declared himself ready after a bullpen session this week and will be looking to build on his last start, when he allowed a run on five hits over seven innings to earn a win over the Chicago White Sox. Buchholz went seven innings at Yankee Stadium on April 3, yielding one run on six hits to pick up the win.

Kuroda opposed Buchholz in that April 3 start but only lasted 1 1/3 innings after taking a comebacker off his pitching hand. The right-hander bounced back from a terrible start by dominating the New York Mets on Tuesday, surrendering four hits without walking a batter in seven scoreless innings. Kuroda has allowed two or fewer runs in seven of his last nine outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox CF Jacoby Ellsbury (groin) has missed the first two games of the series and is questionable for Sunday.

2. New York C Chris Stewart left Saturday’s game in the fifth inning due to dehydration.

3. Boston rookie INF Jose Iglesias is 6-for-13 over the last three games and has hit safely in six straight.

PREDICTION: Yankees 3, Red Sox 1