New York Yankees (81-53) @ Boston Red Sox (83-52)
A.J. Burnett (9-11, 5.31) @ Jon Lester (14-6, 3.09)
7:10 PM EDT | Fenway Park (Boston, MA)
TV: NESN, YES, MLB Network RADIO: WEEI 850, WWZN 1510
GAME NOTES
The Red Sox beat the Yankees last night 9-5 to take the second game of the series against the Evil Empire. In tonight’s final game of the series, A.J. Burnett faces the Sox. Burnett took yet another loss in his last start at Baltimore, a 12-5 defeat for the Yankees. These last two games seem to have been auditions for the fourth spot in the Yankee starting rotation for the playoffs. Let’s see if Burnett can do better than Phil Hughes did last night. Jon Lester won his last start in the opener of the rainy doubleheader against Oakland last Saturday. While you were sleeping, the Red Sox traded Jason Rice to the Oakland Athletics for Conor Jackson. Jackson should provide flexibility for the Sox, as he can play first, corner outfield, and third in a pinch.
Lineups
Boston Red Sox
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Marco Scutaro, SS
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- David Ortiz, DH
- Carl Crawford, LF
- Jed Lowrie, 3B
- Josh Reddick, RF
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
New York Yankees
- Derek Jeter, SS
- Curtis Granderson, CF
- Mark Teixeira, 1B
- Robinson Cano, 2B
- Nick Swisher, RF
- Andruw Jones, LF
- Jesus Montero, DH
- Russell Martin, C
- 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, currently rehabbing); Bobby Jenks, strained back (placed on 15-day DL July 16); Kevin Youkilis, sore back (Placed on 15 day DL August 18, currently rehabbing)
New York: Alex Rodriguez, sprained left thumb (day-to-day); Pedro Feliciano, left shoulder soreness (scratched from a rehab start earlier this week)
Still need tickets for tonight’s game? Visit Coast To Coast Tickets for Boston Red Sox tickets all year.
Fun Facts
-Boston’s 83 wins is their fourth highest in history entering into September. Sox squads to top that mark were 1946 (91), 1912 (87) and 1978 (84)
– On September 1, 1906, the Red Sox lost to the Philadelphia A’s 4-1 in a 24-inning game. Red Sox hurler Joe Harris pitched all 24 innings.
-And for today’s Totally Untrue Fun Fact: Jesus Montero’s father, also named Jesus, was the inspiration for John Tuturro’s character in The Big Lebowski.