AL: NY YANKEES (83-63) at BOSTON (89-58) <h3>Rivalry continues as Yankees visit the Red Sox</h3> NY Yankees (83-63) at Boston (89-58) 7:05 pm EDT BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox will still be in firstplace on Monday - they just aren't sure how big their lead willbe. The first-place Red Sox host their bitter rivals, thesecond-place New York Yankees, in the opener of a three-gameseries on Friday. Boston enters the series carrying a 5 1/2-game lead in theAmerican League East Division after taking two of three gamesfrom the Tampa Bay Devil Rays earlier in the week. The Yankees have been the hottest team in baseball since theAll-Star break, going 40-20 to narrow a deficit that was aslarge as 14 1/2 games in late May. This series is likely just about playoff positions, as New Yorkowns a 3 1/2-game lead over the Detroit Tigers (80-67) in thewild card race. The Red Sox will send struggling rookie Daisuke Matsuzaka(14-12, 4.44 ERA) to the mound on Friday. The Japaneserighthander seems to have hit a wall in his first season inAmerica, going 1-4 with a 9.72 ERA over his last five starts. The 27-year-old Matsuzaka has never thrown close to 200 inningsin a season and pitched out of a six-man rotation during a135-game season in Japan the last several years. The Yankees counter with veteran Andy Pettitte (13-8, 3.78), whois no stranger to meaningful games in September. The35-year-old lefthander has appeared in the postseason 10 timesduring his 13-year career. Pettitte is 9-2 with a 3.14 ERA over his last 12 starts and ownsa career 15-6 mark with a 3.32 ERA in 28 career games - 26starts - against Boston. The Yankees dropped a 2-1 decision Thursday to the Toronto BlueJays, ending their seven-game winning streak. New York has won seven of its last nine meetings with Boston andis 8-7 overall against the Red Sox this season. The Yankeesswept a three-game series from the Red Sox in Yankee Stadiumjust over two weeks ago - the last time the rivals squared off.
AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON <div class="pre">NY YANKEES AT BOSTON -- LINEUPS NY YANKEES BOSTON AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Johnny Damon DH .259 11 57 Julio Lugo SS .241 6 69 Derek Jeter SS .314 9 62 Dustin Pedroia 2B .327 7 47 Bobby Abreu RF .287 16 94 David Ortiz DH .321 31 104 Alex Rodriguez 3B .317 52 140 Mike Lowell 3B .326 18 103 Jorge Posada C .338 20 85 Kevin Youkilis 1B .287 16 80 Hideki Matsui LF .291 23 93 J.D. Drew RF .263 8 50 Jason Giambi 1B .242 13 34 Jason Varitek C .258 13 62 Robinson Cano 2B .299 16 82 Bobby Kielty LF .250 1 11 Melky Cabrera CF .288 8 62 Coco Crisp CF .272 6 58 Andy Pettitte LHP (13-8, 3.78) Daisuke Matsuzaka RHP (14-12, 4.44)</div>
AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON <div class="pre">NY YANKEES AT BOSTON -- REVISED LINEUPS NY YANKEES BOSTON AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Johnny Damon DH .259 11 57 Julio Lugo SS .241 6 69 Derek Jeter SS .314 9 62 Dustin Pedroia 2B .327 7 47 Bobby Abreu RF .287 16 94 David Ortiz DH .321 31 104 Alex Rodriguez 3B .317 52 140 Mike Lowell 3B .326 18 103 Jorge Posada C .338 20 85 Kevin Youkilis 1B .287 16 80 Hideki Matsui LF .291 23 93 J.D. Drew RF .263 8 50 Jason Giambi 1B .242 13 34 Jason Varitek C .258 13 62 Robinson Cano 2B .299 16 82 Bobby Kielty LF .250 1 11 Melky Cabrera CF .288 8 62 Jacoby Ellsbury CF .373 3 10 Andy Pettitte LHP (13-8, 3.78) Daisuke Matsuzaka RHP (14-12, 4.44)</div>
AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON WARMUPS: NYY - ANDY PETTITTE (13-8, 3.78) BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA (14-12, 4.44) UMPIRES: HP - JIM REYNOLDS 1B - GARY CEDERSTROM 2B - LANCE BARKSDALE 3B - BILL WELKE WEATHER: 70 Degrees, cloudy WIND: 14 mph, out to left</div>
AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON STARTING BATS: NYY - ANDY PETTITTE AND JORGE POSADA BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA AND JASON VARITEK DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J DAMON (.259, 11 HR, 57 RBI) D JETER (.314, 9 HR, 62 RBI) B ABREU (.287, 16 HR, 94 RBI)</div>
AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY YANKEES 0 0 1 0 BOSTON 0 0 1 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - ANDY PETTITTE BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J LUGO (.241, 6 HR, 69 RBI) D PEDROIA (.327, 7 HR, 47 RBI) D ORTIZ (.321, 31 HR, 104 RBI)</div>
AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON <div class="pre">NY YANKEES (0) VS BOSTON (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Damon dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .261 D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314 B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317 J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .337 H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .290 J Giambi 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242 R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299 M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 Totals 5 0 1 0 0 0 5 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - H Matsui 2. Team LOB - 3. BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 D Pedroia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327 D Ortiz dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321 M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326 K Youkilis 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258 B Kielty lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 J Ellsbury cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .373 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: E - J Lugo (19, catch). ---------------------------------------------------- NY YANKEES - 0 -- 0 BOSTON - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era A Pettitte 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.78 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era D Matsuzaka 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.42 HBP - A Rodriguez (by D Matsuzaka). Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 27-15. Ground balls-fly balls: D Matsuzaka 3-1. Batters faced: D Matsuzaka 6. UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Gary Cederstrom. 2B--Lance Barksdale. 3B--Bill Welke. Weather: 70 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 14 mph, out to left.</div>
AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON CONFIRMED STARTERS: NYY - ANDY PETTITTE BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA</div>
AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY YANKEES 0 0 1 1 BOSTON 0 0 0 1 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - ANDY PETTITTE BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J GIAMBI (.242, 13 HR, 34 RBI) R CANO (.299, 16 HR, 82 RBI) M CABRERA (.288, 8 HR, 62 RBI)</div>
AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON <div class="pre">NY YANKEES (0) VS BOSTON (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Damon dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .261 D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314 B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317 J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .337 H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .290 J Giambi 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242 R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299 M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 Totals 5 0 1 0 0 0 5 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - H Matsui 2. Team LOB - 3. FIELDING: E - D Jeter (17, throw). BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240 D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .326 D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320 M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .325 K Youkilis 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258 B Kielty lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 J Ellsbury cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .373 Totals 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Lowell 1. Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: E - J Lugo (19, catch). ---------------------------------------------------- NY YANKEES - 0 -- 0 BOSTON - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era A Pettitte 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.76 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era D Matsuzaka 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.42 HBP - A Rodriguez (by D Matsuzaka). Pitches-strikes: A Pettitte 17-10; D Matsuzaka 27-15. Ground balls-fly balls: A Pettitte 1-1; D Matsuzaka 3-1. Batters faced: A Pettitte 4; D Matsuzaka 6. UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Gary Cederstrom. 2B--Lance Barksdale. 3B--Bill Welke. Weather: 70 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 14 mph, out to left.</div>
AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY YANKEES 0 0 0 1 1 BOSTON 0 0 0 1 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - ANDY PETTITTE BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA DUE UP FOR BOSTON: K YOUKILIS (.287, 16 HR, 80 RBI) J DREW (.263, 8 HR, 50 RBI) J VARITEK (.258, 13 HR, 62 RBI)</div>
AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON <div class="pre">NY YANKEES (0) VS BOSTON (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Damon dh 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .261 D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314 B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317 J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .337 H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .290 J Giambi 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .242 R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .298 M Cabrera cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .287 Totals 8 0 1 0 1 2 8 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - H Matsui 2. Team LOB - 4. FIELDING: E - D Jeter (17, throw). BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240 D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .326 D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320 M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .325 K Youkilis 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258 B Kielty lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 J Ellsbury cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .373 Totals 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Lowell 1. Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: E - J Lugo (19, catch). ---------------------------------------------------- NY YANKEES - 00 -- 0 BOSTON - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era A Pettitte 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.76 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era D Matsuzaka 2 1 0 0 1 2 0 4.40 HBP - A Rodriguez (by D Matsuzaka). Pitches-strikes: A Pettitte 17-10; D Matsuzaka 44-24. Ground balls-fly balls: A Pettitte 1-1; D Matsuzaka 3-2. Batters faced: A Pettitte 4; D Matsuzaka 10. UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Gary Cederstrom. 2B--Lance Barksdale. 3B--Tim Welke. Weather: 70 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 14 mph, out to left.</div>
AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY JACOBY ELLSBURY SCORED KEVIN YOUKILIS. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J ELLSBURY ON FIRST, B KIELTY ON SECOND, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 0 BOSTON 1 BOTTOM, 2ND DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J LUGO (.240, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL NY YANKEES AT BOSTON NOTE: BOSTON CENTER FIELDER JACOBY ELLSBURY SINGLED IN THE SECOND INNING TO EXTEND HIS HITTING STREAK TO 12 GAMES.</div>
AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY YANKEES 0 0 0 1 1 BOSTON 0 1 1 2 1 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - ANDY PETTITTE BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: D JETER (.314, 0-FOR-1) B ABREU (.286, 0-FOR-1) A RODRIGUEZ (.317, 0-FOR-0, HBP)</div>
AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON <div class="pre">NY YANKEES (0) VS BOSTON (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Damon dh 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .261 D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314 B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317 J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .337 H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .290 J Giambi 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .242 R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .298 M Cabrera cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .287 Totals 8 0 1 0 1 2 8 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - H Matsui 2. Team LOB - 4. FIELDING: E - D Jeter (17, throw). BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Lugo ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .240 D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .326 D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320 M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .325 K Youkilis 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .289 J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .262 J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .258 B Kielty lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .247 J Ellsbury cf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .383 Totals 9 1 2 1 1 2 6 BATTING: RBI - J Ellsbury (11). 2-out RBI - J Ellsbury. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Lowell 1, J Lugo 1. Team LOB - 3. FIELDING: E - J Lugo (19, catch). ---------------------------------------------------- NY YANKEES - 00 -- 0 BOSTON - 01 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era A Pettitte 2 2 1 1 1 2 0 3.79 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era D Matsuzaka 2 1 0 0 1 2 0 4.40 HBP - A Rodriguez (by D Matsuzaka). Pitches-strikes: A Pettitte 48-28; D Matsuzaka 44-24. Ground balls-fly balls: A Pettitte 2-2; D Matsuzaka 3-2. Batters faced: A Pettitte 10; D Matsuzaka 10. UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Gary Cederstrom. 2B--Lance Barksdale. 3B--Tim Welke. Weather: 70 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 14 mph, out to left.</div>
AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY YANKEES 0 0 0 0 1 1 BOSTON 0 1 1 2 1 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - ANDY PETTITTE BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D PEDROIA (.326, 0-FOR-1) D ORTIZ (.320, 0-FOR-1) M LOWELL (.325, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON <div class="pre">NY YANKEES (0) VS BOSTON (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Damon dh 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .261 D Jeter ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .313 B Abreu rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .316 J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .337 H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .290 J Giambi 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .242 R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .298 M Cabrera cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .287 Totals 11 0 1 0 1 3 8 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - H Matsui 2. Team LOB - 4. FIELDING: E - D Jeter (17, throw). BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Lugo ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .240 D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .326 D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320 M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .325 K Youkilis 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .289 J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .262 J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .258 B Kielty lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .247 J Ellsbury cf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .383 Totals 9 1 2 1 1 2 6 BATTING: RBI - J Ellsbury (11). 2-out RBI - J Ellsbury. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Lowell 1, J Lugo 1. Team LOB - 3. FIELDING: E - J Lugo (19, catch). ---------------------------------------------------- NY YANKEES - 000 -- 0 BOSTON - 01 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era A Pettitte 2 2 1 1 1 2 0 3.79 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era D Matsuzaka 3 1 0 0 1 3 0 4.37 HBP - A Rodriguez (by D Matsuzaka). Pitches-strikes: A Pettitte 48-28; D Matsuzaka 56-31. Ground balls-fly balls: A Pettitte 2-2; D Matsuzaka 4-3. Batters faced: A Pettitte 10; D Matsuzaka 13. UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Gary Cederstrom. 2B--Lance Barksdale. 3B--Tim Welke. Weather: 70 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 14 mph, out to left.</div>
AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE ERROR BY JASON GIAMBI ALLOWED MIKE LOWELL TO SCORE. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J DREW ON FIRST, K YOUKILIS ON THIRD, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 0 BOSTON 2 BOTTOM, 3RD DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J VARITEK (.258, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>
AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY YANKEES 0 0 0 0 1 2 BOSTON 0 1 1 2 4 1 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - ANDY PETTITTE BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J POSADA (.337, 0-FOR-1) H MATSUI (.290, 0-FOR-1) J GIAMBI (.242, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>
