BOSTON (Reuters) - The Boston Red Sox continued their mastery of fierce rivals New York Wednesday, stretching their unbeaten streak over the Yankees to seven games this season with a 6-5 win.
Tim Wakefield recorded the victory for the hosts (35-24), who replaced the Yankees (34-25) at the top of the American League East. Wakefield gave up three runs over six innings to improve to 5-0 at Fenway Park in 2009.
Boston reliever Hideki Okajima pitched a scoreless 1 1/3 innings and closer Jonathan Papelbon escaped the threat of a runner in scoring position in the ninth.
"I think that's what we pride ourselves on," Papelbon told reporters. "I think our bullpen -- we feed off of each other, and we use that momentum off each other."
The Red Sox scored two runs in the second inning, and Mike Lowell hit a solo home run in the third where the team took a 4-1 advantage. Kevin Youkilis blasted a two-run shot in the fourth to put the hosts 6-2 ahead.
The Yankees battled back, Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira delivered solo shots in the seventh inning off Red Sox reliever Ramon Ramirez, but could not complete the comeback.
Teixeira, who has thrived since joining New York in the offseason, finished 4-for-5 with two runs scored.
Yankees starting pitcher Wang Chien-ming, who returned from a hip ailment last month, lasted less than three innings, giving up four runs with three walks.
New York will send prized acquisition CC Sabathia to the mound against Boston's Brad Penny Thursday as the Yankees try to avoid being swept by the Red Sox for a third successive series.
"Unfortunately we are 0-7 against them, but in the American League East we're down one," Damon said.
"Hopefully, tomorrow can be a different story, and we can try to get that win and start going from there."
(Editing by Peter Rutherford; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Source: Reuters
No comments:
Post a Comment