New York Yankees (68-42) @ Boston Red Sox (68-42)
Bartolo Colon (8-6, 3.30) @ Jon Lester (11-4, 3.17)
7:10 PM EDT | Fenway Park (Boston, MA)
TV: NESN, MLBN RADIO: WEEI 850, WWZN 1510
GAME NOTES
It’s been almost two months since the Red Sox and Yankees last played each other. They have played a combined 98 games since Boston stormed back to beat CC Sabathia 7-2 in the Bronx on June Ninth. Of course, none of those games seem to matter now as they enter tonight’s showdown knotted with 68-42 records atop the American League East. It’s a 0-0 season now, and whichever team can compile the best record by the time the clock strikes midnight on the season will win the division. That battle begins tonight as Boston sends lefty Jon Lester to the mound. He comes off a gem of a start in Chicago where he pitched eight innings, giving up two runs while striking out eight. The win moved him to 11-4 on the season with a 3.17 ERA. The Yankees give the nod to Bartolo Colon. The big (understatement) righty has surprised on multiple levels this season. One: He has made 16 starts for the yanks this year. Two: He has only been on the disabled list once. Three: He somehow has a 3.30 ERA. (Four: He discovered the magic of stem cell implants, but not liposuction.) His last start came against Baltimore. He got the win in a five inning effort, giving up two runs and striking out six. Boston has taken eight of nine from New York this year, but it doesn’t matter now. What matters is doing their best to win tonight, and tomorrow, and as many times as neccessary to take the division crown. Come October, the last place the Sox want to be is in the sweltering heat of Arlington, and it will take a division championship to ensure that they don’t find themselves in that position.
Lineups
Boston
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Kevin Youkilis, 3B
- David Ortiz, DH
- Carl Crawford, LF
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
- Josh Reddick, RF
- Marco Scutaro, SS
New York
- Derek Jeter, SS
- Curtis Granderson, CF
- Mark Teixeira, 1B
- Robinson Cano, 2B
- Nick Swisher, RF
- Andruw Jones, LF
- Russell Martin, C
- Jorge Posada, DH
- Eduardo Nunez, 3B
INJURY REPORT
Boston: Clay Buchholz, lower back strain (placed on 15-day DL June 19, retroactive to June 17); J.D. Drew, left shoulder impingement (placed on 15-day DL July 26); Bobby Jenks, strained back (placed on 15-day DL July 16); Jed Lowrie, right shoulder injury (placed on 15-day DL June 17, scheduled to start rehab assignment August 1)
New York: Alex Rodriguez, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery (placed on 15-day DL July 14th)
Stats
-Erik Bedard threw 70 pitches through five innings last night. Andrew Miller threw 71 in 2 2/3 innings of relief.
-In the nine games of the seasons series so far, Yankee starters have a combined 8.18 ERA.
-The Yankees are riding a season high seven game win streak. They’ve also lost seven straight to Boston.
-Lester is 8-1 with a 3.56 ERA in 14 starts against the Yankees. He’s 1-0 with a 2.03 ERA in two starts since coming off the DL.
-Jacoby Ellsbury played in just 18 games last year. He already has 18 homers this year.
Enjoy the game everyone. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section, we’d love to hear from you.