Boston @ New York preview
Yankee Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2011 ) Boston 1, NY Yankees 9
THE STORY: If the Boston Red Sox were hoping Friday night’s rainout would provide some relief from their painful collapse, they were as far off the mark as their pitching staff has been for most of the month. The New York Yankees bludgeoned ace Jon Lester and the Red Sox 9-1 on Saturday, sending Boston to its 17th loss in 22 games. With its wild-card lead over Tampa Bay sitting at 1 1/2 games, the Red Sox will be forced to trot out a pair of pitchers who each have managed to win just once in their last seven starts in Sunday’s day-night doubleheader at Yankee Stadium. New York clinched home-field throughout the American League playoffs after the Detroit Tigers lost Saturday night.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, TBS, NESN, YES
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Tim Wakefield (7-7, 5.08 ERA) vs. Yankees RH A.J. Burnett (10-11, 5.28 ERA).
Wakefield turned 45 at the beginning of August and he's looking his age. The knuckleballer has one win since July 24, and the Red Sox put up 18 runs behind him in that outing. He's allowed an average of just over 6 1/2 runs in his last seven starts and has not gone past the sixth inning since Aug. 14. Wakefield is 12-17 lifetime against the Yankees, although he hasn't lost in three career starts at the new Yankee Stadium.
Burnett’s spot in the postseason rotation could be on the line as he seeks just his third win in 15 starts. He has his best outing in weeks on Sept. 13 at Seattle, striking out 11 in six innings. He seemed to build on that last time out, fanning seven in three innings against Minnesota, but imploded and was knocked out without retiring a batter in the fifth. He's faced Boston twice this season, giving up 10 runs in 11 innings.
ABOUT THE RED SOX (88-69): Boston received another dismal performance from a starting pitcher and was staring at a six-run deficit after two innings Saturday. Lester lasted only 2 2/3 innings, continuing a horrid stretch that has seen Red Sox starters sport a collective 7.37 ERA in the last 19 games. Starting with last Sunday’s loss to Tampa Bay, Boston has not held an opponent under six runs. In an effort to jump-start the offense, Carl Crawford was elevated to No. 2 in the lineup and responded with an RBI double. Jacoby Ellsbury had two hits to extend his streak to eight games.
ABOUT THE YANKEES (96-61): While reveling in the present, New York is enjoying a glimpse at its future. Jesus Montero, the 21-year-old catcher who was promoted when rosters were expanded earlier this month, belted his fourth homer in 15 games Saturday. He also had three hits and drove in four runs to lift his season totals to a .346 batting average and 12 RBIs. Derek Jeter struck the big blow with a three-run homer to cap a six-run outburst in the second inning. It was only the sixth homer of the season and second since July 25 for Jeter, who had only three RBIs in his previous 15 games.
FINAL PITCH: The Yankees celebrated the 50th anniversary of Roger Maris’ 61 home run season in a pregame ceremony Saturday before routing Boston for their first win over the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium this year.