Boston @ New York preview
Yankee Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2011 ) Boston 2, NY Yankees 6
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: 6:30 p.m. ET, NESN, YES
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH John Lackey (12-12, 6.49 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Ivan Nova (16-4, 3.62 ERA).
Boston manager Terry Francona took his time naming Lackey to start Sunday, and it's not hard to see why. The veteran righthander owns the highest ERA of any starting pitcher in baseball with more than 150 innings and is winless (0-3) in his last five starts. Lackey was battered for eight runs and 11 hits by Baltimore on Monday. He's 2-1 against New York this season but has allowed 14 runs in 18 innings.
Nova will be looking to extend his winning streak to 13 games as he makes his final start of the regular season. He has not lost since June 3 and only a demotion to the minors in early July cost Nova a chance for 20 wins. The rookie was superb in his last outing, shutting out Tampa Bay on six hits in 7 2/3 scoreless innings. He has not faced the Red Sox since April 9.
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.