New York @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2013 ) NY Yankees 1, Boston 6

The Boston Red Sox figured out how to stop Alfonso Soriano, simply keep him from hitting with men on base. The Red Sox attempt to follow that plan to a win in the rubber match on Sunday when they host the New York Yankees in the finale of a three-game set. Soriano is 15-for-22 over his last five games but failed to drive in a run in Saturday’s 6-1 loss after pushing across a record-tying 18 in the previous four games.

Boston pitching did a solid job of retiring Robinson Cano, thereby leaving Soriano to lead off three separate innings and never batting with a runner on base in four turns on Saturday. The Red Sox own a two-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the American League East and head back out on the road after Sunday’s finale. The Yankees sit 8 1/2 games behind Boston.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (10-10, 4.66 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Ryan Dempster (6-8, 4.50)

Sabathia snapped a six-start winless streak against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday despite issuing six walks in as many innings. The burly veteran is aiming for a third straight quality start after posting a 10.91 ERA in his three previous turns. One of those came at Boston on July 21, when Sabathia was lit up for seven runs on nine hits in five innings.

Dempster snapped out of a funk at Toronto on Tuesday with his first quality start since July 6, allowing one run on four hits in seven innings. The veteran Canadian’s seven innings marked his longest outing in nearly two months. Dempster went up against New York on July 21 and did not factor in the decision while yielding five runs (three earned) on six hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox 1B Mike Napoli (left foot) got Saturday off and is day-to-day.

2. Soriano is just 1-for-4 in his career against Dempster, who was teammates with the slugger on the Chicago Cubs until last season.

3. Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia had scans on his foot and ankle come back negative after leaving Saturday’s game. He is not expected to miss time.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Yankees 5