Recap: NY Yankees vs. Boston
Sports Network | August 26, 2008
Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Jeff Bailey and Jason Bay drove in two runs apiece to lead the Boston Red Sox past the New York Yankees, 7-3, in the opener of a three-game series that will serve as the final meeting between these two bitter rivals at the current Yankee Stadium. Coco Crisp went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored for the Sox, who have won five of their last seven games. Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkilis both drove in a run in the win, which pulled Boston within 3 1/2 games of Tampa Bay for the AL East lead as the Rays fell to the Blue Jays on Tuesday. The club still owns the lead in the Wild Card standings. Starter Tim Wakefield (8-8) lasted five innings and was touched for all three NY runs on eight hits. The knuckle-baller, who was activated from the disabled list prior to the game, was winless in his last six starts versus the Yankees before Tuesday's triumph. Jonathan Papelbon recorded the final four outs for his 34th save of the season. Johnny Damon had a pair of solo homers for the Yankees, who saw their three- game win streak come to a halt. Jose Molina drove in the other run for NY, which stayed 9 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay for the division lead, but fell six games behind Boston in the Wild Card race. Andy Pettitte (13-10) took the loss as he was roughed up for six runs on 10 hits while lasting 4 2/3 frames while striking out three and walking three. Consecutive doubles from David Ortiz and Youkilis produced a run to open the third and Bay made it 3-2 in favor of Boston as he followed with an RBI single. Bay started a two-out rally in the fifth with a single and Jed Lowrie followed suit to make it first and second. Crisp clubbed an RBI single and stole second to put two runners in scoring position before Bailey hit a scorcher down the third base line and barely beat Alex Rodriguez's throw to first. The hit plated Lowrie, and as Jason Giambi turned around to plead his case with first base umpire Tim Timmons, Crisp crossed home to make it 6-2. Damon clubbed his second homer of the game, and 11th of the season, in the home fifth to pull the Yanks within three runs. With one gone in the sixth, Brian Bruney walked Dustin Pedroia, Ortiz and Youkilis to load the bases. Bay smacked a sac fly to Xavier Nady in left, and the Sox were sitting on a 7-3 cushion. NY loaded the bases with one out in the seventh. After Manny Delcarmen was pulled in favor of Justin Masterson, Rodriguez grounded into a 6-3 double play to kill the rally. It was Rodriguez's ninth double play in his last 19 games. The Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Damon led off with a homer to right field. Boston evened the score in the second stanza. Bailey hit a two-out slow roller towards Rodriguez, who botched the scoop as he tried to grab it bare-handed. Consecutive singles from Kevin Cash and Ellsbury produced a run. The Yankees jumped back on top, 2-1, in the home half. Hideki Matsui slapped a two- out single to right, moved to second on Robinson Cano's base-hit and crossed home as Molina singled back up the middle. Game Notes Wakefield was on the hill for the first time since August 6. The righty had been on the disabled list with tightness in his right shoulder...New York fell to 6-7 in its 13 matchups with the Red Sox this season...Jeter went 2-for-5, notching his 38th multi-hit game of the season...Pedroia snapped a 61-game errorless streak with his fielding gaffe in the eighth and was the only Boston starter to not record a hit. Game Notes Wakefield was on the hill for the first time since August 6. The righty had been on the disabled list with tightness in his right shoulder...New York fell to 6-7 in its 13 matchups with the Red Sox this season...Jeter went 2-for-5, notching his 38th multi-hit game of the season...Pedroia snapped a 61-game errorless streak with his fielding gaffe in the eighth and was the only Boston starter to not record a hit.
New FanShot
