New York Yankees (69-43) @ Boston Red Sox (69-43)
Freddy Garcia (10-7, 3.22) @ Josh Beckett (9-4, 2.20)
8:05 PM EDT | Fenway Park (Boston, MA)
TV: ESPN RADIO: WEEI 850, WWZN 1510
GAME NOTES
So, here we go again. Once again the Red Sox and Yankees find themselves tied atop the American League East, and will square off for the undisputed lead tonight. After splitting the first two games of the series, the two clubs sport an identical 69-43 record. Josh Beckett will be on the mound for Boston, looking for his tenth win of the season. He pitched six innings in his last start, a no-decision against the Indians that saw him strike out seven. Freddy Garcia gets the call for New York. Garcia is another veteran pitcher picked up in the offseason by the Yankees, and like Bartolo Colon, he has exceeded all expectations. He’s compiled a 3.22 ERA and a 10-7 mark. He picked up a win in his last start, pitching six innings while giving up two runs and striking out six. Whichever team leaves Fenway tonight with a win will also leave as a first place team, and there’s no place the Sox would rather be.
Lineups
Boston
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Kevin Youkilis, 3B
- David Ortiz, DH
- Carl Crawford, LF
- Josh Reddick, RF
- Jason Varitek, C
- Marco Scutaro, SS
New York
- Brett Gardner, LF
- Derek Jeter, SS
- Curtis Granderson, CF
- Mark Teixeira, 1B
- Robinson Cano, 2B
- Nick Swisher, RF
- Eric Chavez, 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); 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
-Josh Beckett is 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA against the Yankees this year.
-Garcia on the other hand, is 0-2 with a 10.12 ERA.
-Jacoby Ellsbury had a career high 6 RBI’s in yesterday’s game. He had 6 RBI’s all of last season.
-Carl Crawford has more 4 hit games than 3 hit games this season.
-Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano, and Curtis Granderson each have 3 home runs off of Beckett.
Join us tonight for a live chat during the game with Sweetspot’s Yankee writers from It’s About The Money, Stupid.
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