GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: NY YANKEES (23-30) at BOSTON (37-17)

AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY YANKEES 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 1 1 6 12 1
BOSTON 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 5 11 1 (BOT 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - BRIAN BRUNEY
BOS - JONATHAN PAPELBON

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D ORTIZ (.326, 1-FOR-4, RBI)
M RAMIREZ (.289, 2-FOR-3, BB)
K YOUKILIS (.350, 1-FOR-3, SF, RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (6) VS BOSTON (5) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon dh 4 0 0 0 1 1 3 .251
D Jeter ss 5 1 0 0 0 0 3 .333
B Abreu rf 4 1 2 0 1 1 0 .244
A Rodriguez 3b 5 1 2 2 0 1 3 .293
J Posada c 5 1 2 1 0 1 2 .363
H Matsui lf 4 1 2 0 0 1 2 .284
R Cano 2b 3 0 1 1 1 1 2 .265
J Phelps 1b 4 0 2 1 0 1 2 .281
M Cabrera cf 4 1 1 0 0 1 3 .248

Totals 38 6 12 5 3 8 20

BATTING: 2B - J Posada (19, J Beckett); B Abreu (9, J Beckett). 3B - R Cano (3,
H Okajima). HR - A Rodriguez (20, 9th inning off J Papelbon 0 on, 2 Out). RBI -
J Phelps (10), A Rodriguez 2 (47), J Posada (37), R Cano (26). 2-out RBI - J
Phelps, A Rodriguez 2, J Posada. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J
Damon 1, J Posada 1, A Rodriguez 1, H Matsui 1, M Cabrera 1. GIDP - J Phelps.
Team LOB - 8.

FIELDING: E - B Abreu (3, bobble). Outfield assists - H Matsui (J Lugo at
Home).


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Lugo ss 3 0 1 0 2 1 3 .226
D Pedroia 2b 5 1 2 3 0 0 3 .336
D Ortiz dh 4 1 1 1 0 1 0 .326
M Ramirez lf 3 0 2 0 1 1 0 .289
K Youkilis 1b 3 0 1 1 0 0 2 .350
M Lowell 3b 4 0 1 0 0 1 3 .335
J Varitek c 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .275
W Pena rf 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 .229
C Crisp cf 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 .238

Totals 33 5 11 5 4 5 14

BATTING: 2B - D Pedroia 2 (13, L Vizcaino, A Pettitte); M Lowell (17, L
Vizcaino); M Ramirez (12, K Farnsworth). SF - K Youkilis. RBI - D Pedroia 3
(16), D Ortiz (40), K Youkilis (31). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
J Varitek 2, M Lowell 1, D Pedroia 2. Team LOB - 9.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Lugo (17, 2nd base off A Pettitte/J Posada).

FIELDING: E - M Lowell (10, throw). DP: 1 (M Lowell-D Pedroia-K Youkilis).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 010 030 011 -- 6
BOSTON - 000 050 00 -- 5
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
A Pettitte 4 1/3 7 5 5 1 3 0 2.96
L Vizcaino 1 2/3 2 0 0 2 1 0 6.91
K Farnsworth 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.30
B Bruney 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 2.02

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Beckett 6 1/3 8 4 4 3 5 0 2.95
J Lopez 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.46
B Donnelly 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.63
H Okajima 1 1/3 2 1 1 0 1 0 1.27
J Papelbon 1 1 1 1 0 2 1 2.11

J Lopez pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.

IBB - M Ramirez (by L Vizcaino). Pitches-strikes: A Pettitte 83-52; L
Vizcaino 32-16; K Farnsworth 11-8; B Bruney 21-11; J Beckett 117-77; J Lopez
5-3; B Donnelly 6-3; H Okajima 23-16; J Papelbon 20-12. Ground balls-fly balls:
A Pettitte 4-6; L Vizcaino 1-2; K Farnsworth 1-1; B Bruney 0-3; J Beckett 9-5;
J Lopez 0-0; B Donnelly 0-1; H Okajima 2-1; J Papelbon 1-0. Batters faced: A
Pettitte 21; L Vizcaino 8; K Farnsworth 4; B Bruney 5; J Beckett 29; J Lopez 1;
B Donnelly 1; H Okajima 6; J Papelbon 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Chris Guccione. 1B--Jerry Crawford. 2B--Brian O'Nora. 3B--Phil
Cuzzi.

Weather: 53 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - PITCHING CHANGE
NYY: MARIANO RIVERA (1-3, 5.30) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 6, BOSTON 5

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D ORTIZ (.326, 1-FOR-4, RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: M Rivera relieved B Bruney.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 6
BOSTON 5 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D Ortiz (.326, 1-FOR-4, RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY YANKEES 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 1 1 6 12 1
BOSTON 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 5 11 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: NYY - ANDY PETTITTE, LUIS VIZCAINO (5TH), KYLE FARNSWORTH (7TH),
BRIAN BRUNEY (8TH), MARIANO RIVERA (9TH) AND JORGE POSADA

BOS - JOSH BECKETT, JAVIER LOPEZ (7TH), BRENDAN
DONNELLY (7TH), HIDEKI OKAJIMA (7TH), JONATHAN PAPELBON (9TH)
AND JASON VARITEK

HOME RUNS: NYY - ALEX RODRIGUEZ (20) OFF JONATHAN PAPELBON IN THE 9TH, 0 ON

BOS - NONE</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY YANKEES 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 1 1 6 12 1
BOSTON 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 5 11 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: NYY - ANDY PETTITTE, LUIS VIZCAINO (5TH), KYLE FARNSWORTH (7TH),
BRIAN BRUNEY (8TH), MARIANO RIVERA (9TH) AND JORGE POSADA

BOS - JOSH BECKETT, JAVIER LOPEZ (7TH), BRENDAN
DONNELLY (7TH), HIDEKI OKAJIMA (7TH), JONATHAN PAPELBON (9TH)
AND JASON VARITEK


WP - BRIAN BRUNEY (2-1)
LP - JONATHAN PAPELBON (0-1)
SAVE - MARIANO RIVERA (5)

HOME RUNS: NYY - ALEX RODRIGUEZ (20) OFF JONATHAN PAPELBON IN THE 9TH, 0 ON

BOS - NONE


TIME: 4:04 ATT: 36,793

PROBABLES: BOS - JULIAN TAVAREZ (3-4, 5.40)
OAK - DAN HAREN (6-2, 1.64)

PROBABLES: NYY - MATT DESALVO (1-2, 5.40)
CHA - JON GARLAND (3-3, 3.91)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (6) VS BOSTON (5) - FINAL

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon dh 4 0 0 0 1 1 3 .251
D Jeter ss 5 1 0 0 0 0 3 .333
B Abreu rf 4 1 2 0 1 1 0 .244
A Rodriguez 3b 5 1 2 2 0 1 3 .293
J Posada c 5 1 2 1 0 1 2 .363
H Matsui lf 4 1 2 0 0 1 2 .284
R Cano 2b 3 0 1 1 1 1 2 .265
J Phelps 1b 4 0 2 1 0 1 2 .281
M Cabrera cf 4 1 1 0 0 1 3 .248

Totals 38 6 12 5 3 8 20

BATTING: 2B - J Posada (19, J Beckett); B Abreu (9, J Beckett). 3B - R Cano (3,
H Okajima). HR - A Rodriguez (20, 9th inning off J Papelbon 0 on, 2 Out). RBI -
J Phelps (10), A Rodriguez 2 (47), J Posada (37), R Cano (26). 2-out RBI - J
Phelps, A Rodriguez 2, J Posada. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J
Damon 1, J Posada 1, A Rodriguez 1, H Matsui 1, M Cabrera 1. GIDP - J Phelps.
Team LOB - 8.

FIELDING: E - B Abreu (3, bobble). Outfield assists - H Matsui (J Lugo at
Home).


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Lugo ss 3 0 1 0 2 1 3 .226
D Pedroia 2b 5 1 2 3 0 0 3 .336
D Ortiz dh 5 1 1 1 0 1 0 .325
M Ramirez lf 4 0 2 0 1 2 0 .288
K Youkilis 1b 3 0 1 1 0 0 2 .350
M Lowell 3b 5 0 1 0 0 2 4 .333
J Varitek c 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .275
W Pena rf 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 .229
C Crisp cf 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 .238

Totals 36 5 11 5 4 7 15

BATTING: 2B - D Pedroia 2 (13, L Vizcaino, A Pettitte); M Lowell (17, L
Vizcaino); M Ramirez (12, K Farnsworth). SF - K Youkilis. RBI - D Pedroia 3
(16), D Ortiz (40), K Youkilis (31). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
J Varitek 2, M Lowell 1, D Pedroia 2. Team LOB - 10.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Lugo (17, 2nd base off A Pettitte/J Posada).

FIELDING: E - M Lowell (10, throw). DP: 1 (M Lowell-D Pedroia-K Youkilis).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 010 030 011 -- 6
BOSTON - 000 050 000 -- 5
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
A Pettitte 4 1/3 7 5 5 1 3 0 2.96
L Vizcaino 1 2/3 2 0 0 2 1 0 6.91
K Farnsworth 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.30
B Bruney (W, 2-1) 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 2.02
M Rivera (S, 5) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 5.03

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Beckett 6 1/3 8 4 4 3 5 0 2.95
J Lopez (H, 9) 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.46
B Donnelly (H, 9) 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.63
H Okajima (B, 1) 1 1/3 2 1 1 0 1 0 1.27
J Papelbon (L, 0-1) 1 1 1 1 0 2 1 2.11

J Lopez pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.

IBB - M Ramirez (by L Vizcaino). HBP - K Youkilis (by M Rivera).
Pitches-strikes: A Pettitte 83-52; L Vizcaino 32-16; K Farnsworth 11-8; B
Bruney 21-11; M Rivera 24-17; J Beckett 117-77; J Lopez 5-3; B Donnelly 6-3; H
Okajima 23-16; J Papelbon 20-12. Ground balls-fly balls: A Pettitte 4-6; L
Vizcaino 1-2; K Farnsworth 1-1; B Bruney 0-3; M Rivera 0-1; J Beckett 9-5; J
Lopez 0-0; B Donnelly 0-1; H Okajima 2-1; J Papelbon 1-0. Batters faced: A
Pettitte 21; L Vizcaino 8; K Farnsworth 4; B Bruney 5; M Rivera 4; J Beckett
29; J Lopez 1; B Donnelly 1; H Okajima 6; J Papelbon 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Chris Guccione. 1B--Jerry Crawford. 2B--Brian O'Nora. 3B--Phil
Cuzzi.

T--4:04. Att--36,793.
Weather: 53 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, in from
center.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
NY YANKEES 6
BOSTON 5 FINAL</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NY YANKEES (6) AT BOSTON (5) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NY YANKEES 2ND: A Rodriguez popped out to second. J Posada doubled to
right center. H Matsui singled to right, J Posada to third. R Cano struck out
swinging. J Phelps singled to shallow center, J Posada scored, H Matsui to
second. M Cabrera struck out looking. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 1,
BOSTON 0.

NY YANKEES 5TH: J Phelps reached on infield single to third. M Cabrera
singled to center, J Phelps to second. J Damon flied out to left. D Jeter
grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Phelps out at third, M Cabrera
to second. B Abreu walked, M Cabrera to third, D Jeter to second. A Rodriguez
reached on infield single to third, M Cabrera scored, D Jeter to third, B Abreu
to second, D Jeter scored, B Abreu to third on throwing error by third baseman
M Lowell. J Posada singled to right, B Abreu scored, A Rodriguez to second.
H Matsui struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Error) NY YANKEES 4, BOSTON 0.

BOSTON 5TH: J Varitek singled to left. W Pena singled to left, J Varitek
to second. C Crisp singled to center, J Varitek to third, W Pena to second.
J Lugo struck out swinging. D Pedroia doubled to deep center, J Varitek, W Pena
and C Crisp scored. D Ortiz singled to right, D Pedroia scored, D Ortiz to
third on error by right fielder B Abreu. L Vizcaino relieved A Pettitte.
M Ramirez intentionally walked. K Youkilis hit sacrifice fly to center, D Ortiz
scored. M Lowell doubled to left, M Ramirez to third. J Varitek grounded out
to second. (5 Runs, 6 Hits, 1 Error) NY YANKEES 4, BOSTON 5.

NY YANKEES 8TH: H Matsui singled to right. R Cano tripled to deep center,
H Matsui scored. J Phelps struck out swinging. M Cabrera grounded out to
third. J Damon grounded out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 5,
BOSTON 5.

NY YANKEES 9TH: J Papelbon relieved H Okajima. D Jeter grounded out to
first. B Abreu struck out swinging. A Rodriguez homered to right center.
J Posada struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 6, BOSTON 5.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BOSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NY YANKEES (6) AT BOSTON (5) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ny Yankees Starting Lineups -- J Damon DH, D Jeter SS, B Abreu RF, A Rodriguez
3B, J Posada C, H Matsui LF, R Cano 2B, J Phelps 1B, M Cabrera CF, A Pettitte LHP.

Boston Starting Lineups -- J Lugo SS, D Pedroia 2B, D Ortiz DH, M Ramirez LF,
K Youkilis 1B, M Lowell 3B, J Varitek C, W Pena RF, C Crisp CF, J Beckett RHP.

Umpires -- Chris Guccione (HP), Jerry Crawford (1B), Brian O'Nora (2B),
Phil Cuzzi (3B).

Gametime Weather: 53 degrees, Cloudy, wind in from center at 10 mph.


NY YANKEES 1ST: J Damon struck out swinging. D Jeter grounded out to
second. B Abreu flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 0,
BOSTON 0.

BOSTON 1ST: J Lugo grounded out to shortstop. D Pedroia grounded out to
shortstop. D Ortiz grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY YANKEES 0, BOSTON 0.

NY YANKEES 2ND: A Rodriguez popped out to second. J Posada doubled to
right center. H Matsui singled to right, J Posada to third. R Cano struck out
swinging. J Phelps singled to shallow center, J Posada scored, H Matsui to
second. M Cabrera struck out looking. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 1,
BOSTON 0.

BOSTON 2ND: M Ramirez struck out swinging. K Youkilis singled to center.
M Lowell flied out to left. J Varitek flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) NY YANKEES 1, BOSTON 0.

NY YANKEES 3RD: J Damon grounded out to shortstop. D Jeter grounded out to
shortstop. B Abreu doubled to deep left. A Rodriguez struck out looking.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 1, BOSTON 0.

BOSTON 3RD: W Pena flied out to center. C Crisp flied out to right.
J Lugo walked. J Lugo stole second. D Pedroia grounded out to second. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 1, BOSTON 0.

NY YANKEES 4TH: J Posada lined out to center. H Matsui grounded out to
pitcher. R Cano grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 1,
BOSTON 0.

BOSTON 4TH: D Ortiz struck out looking. M Ramirez singled to right.
K Youkilis lined out to right. M Lowell lined out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) NY YANKEES 1, BOSTON 0.

NY YANKEES 5TH: J Phelps reached on infield single to third. M Cabrera
singled to center, J Phelps to second. J Damon flied out to left. D Jeter
grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Phelps out at third, M Cabrera
to second. B Abreu walked, M Cabrera to third, D Jeter to second. A Rodriguez
reached on infield single to third, M Cabrera scored, D Jeter to third, B Abreu
to second, D Jeter scored, B Abreu to third on throwing error by third baseman
M Lowell. J Posada singled to right, B Abreu scored, A Rodriguez to second.
H Matsui struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Error) NY YANKEES 4, BOSTON 0.

BOSTON 5TH: J Varitek singled to left. W Pena singled to left, J Varitek
to second. C Crisp singled to center, J Varitek to third, W Pena to second.
J Lugo struck out swinging. D Pedroia doubled to deep center, J Varitek, W Pena
and C Crisp scored. D Ortiz singled to right, D Pedroia scored, D Ortiz to
third on error by right fielder B Abreu. L Vizcaino relieved A Pettitte.
M Ramirez intentionally walked. K Youkilis hit sacrifice fly to center, D Ortiz
scored. M Lowell doubled to left, M Ramirez to third. J Varitek grounded out
to second. (5 Runs, 6 Hits, 1 Error) NY YANKEES 4, BOSTON 5.

NY YANKEES 6TH: R Cano walked. J Phelps grounded into double play, third
to second to first, R Cano out at second. M Cabrera grounded out to second.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 4, BOSTON 5.

BOSTON 6TH: W Pena struck out looking. C Crisp flied out to left. J Lugo
walked. D Pedroia doubled to left, J Lugo thrown out at home. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) NY YANKEES 4, BOSTON 5.

NY YANKEES 7TH: J Damon walked. D Jeter flied out to right. J Lopez
relieved J Beckett. B Abreu singled to center, J Damon to third. B Donnelly
relieved J Lopez. A Rodriguez popped out to shortstop. H Okajima relieved
B Donnelly. J Posada flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
NY YANKEES 4, BOSTON 5.

BOSTON 7TH: K Farnsworth relieved L Vizcaino. D Ortiz grounded out to
second. M Ramirez doubled to deep center. K Youkilis flied out to right,
M Ramirez to third. M Lowell struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
NY YANKEES 4, BOSTON 5.

NY YANKEES 8TH: H Matsui singled to right. R Cano tripled to deep center,
H Matsui scored. J Phelps struck out swinging. M Cabrera grounded out to
third. J Damon grounded out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 5,
BOSTON 5.

BOSTON 8TH: B Bruney relieved K Farnsworth. J Varitek popped out to third.
W Pena lined out to right. C Crisp walked. J Lugo singled to left, C Crisp to
second. D Pedroia flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 5,
BOSTON 5.

NY YANKEES 9TH: J Papelbon relieved H Okajima. D Jeter grounded out to
first. B Abreu struck out swinging. A Rodriguez homered to right center.
J Posada struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 6, BOSTON 5.

BOSTON 9TH: M Rivera relieved B Bruney. D Ortiz lined out to right.
M Ramirez struck out swinging. K Youkilis hit by pitch. M Lowell struck
out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 6, BOSTON 5.</div>

 

Rodriguez's game-winning homer lifts Yankees past Red Sox

<h3>NY YANKEES 6, BOSTON 5</h3>BOSTON (Ticker) -- Alex Rodriguez capped off his long weekwith something to smile about.

Rodriguez stroked a game-winning homer in top of the ninthinning as the New York Yankees rallied for a 6-5 triumph overthe Boston Red Sox in the rubber game of a three-game series onSunday night.

Rodriguez's name was mentioned a lot the past few days aspictures of him and a former Las Vegas stripper surfaced in theNew York Post on Friday. Two days prior, the former AmericanLeague MVP was called out by Toronto for shouting to infieldersas he ran the bases during a key popup in the ninth inning.

However, it was Rodriguez who came away looking good in thisone, taking an 0-2 offering from Red Sox closer JonathanPapelbon (0-1) to right-center field for his league-leading 20thblast of the season and fourth ninth-inning blast this season.

Brian Bruney (2-1) picked up the win with a scoreless eighth andMariano Rivera closed the door in the ninth, retiring the heartof Boston's lineup for his fifth save.

Boston looked poised to take the series until the Yankees scoreda run in the eighth for a 5-5 tie. Hideki Matsui singled andcame around on Robinson Cano's triple off reliever HidekiOkajima.

New York got to Boston starter Josh Beckett for three runs inthe fifth to forge a 4-0 lead. Melky Cabrera and Derek Jeterscored on third baseman Mike Lowell's throwing error with thebases loaded, and Jorge Posada laced a run-scoring single toright.

However, Boston's high-powered offense came through in a big wayin the bottom half against Yankees starter Andy Pettitte.Rookie Dustin Pedroia hit a bases-clearing double off the centerfield wall and scored when Ortiz's base hit got past rightfielder Bobby Abreu, tying the game at 4-4.

Boston took a 5-4 lead when Youkilis lofted a sacrifice fly,putting Beckett in position to improve to 9-0. Beckett gave upfour runs and eight hits over 6 1/3 innings but the bullpenprevented him from joining Anaheim righthander John Lackey asthe only nine-game winners in the majors.

Pettitte allowed five runs and seven hits with three strikeoutsin 4 1/3 innings.

 

Rodriguez's game-winning homer lifts Yankees past Red Sox

<h3>NY YANKEES 6, BOSTON 5</h3>BOSTON (Ticker) -- Alex Rodriguez capped off his long weekwith something to smile about.

Rodriguez stroked a game-winning homer in top of the ninthinning as the New York Yankees rallied for a 6-5 triumph overthe Boston Red Sox in the rubber game of a three-game series onSunday night.

Rodriguez's name was mentioned a lot the past few days aspictures of him and a former Las Vegas stripper surfaced in theNew York Post on Friday. Two days prior, the former AmericanLeague MVP was called out by Toronto for shouting to infieldersas he ran the bases during a key popup in the ninth inning.

However, it was Rodriguez who came away looking good in thisone, taking an 0-2 offering from Red Sox closer JonathanPapelbon (0-1) to right-center field for his league-leading 20thblast of the season and fourth ninth-inning homer this season.

"That's a big win for us," said Rodriguez, adding that it willprovide the team with momentum heading into its series againstthe Chicago White Sox. "It's important to go to Chicago andplay well and try to get some wins. It's just good to get awin. It's nice."

"The chance of hitting an 0-2 pitch off Papelbon for a home run(very small)," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "I'm just gladit happened for us. He kept fighting and finally we were ableto prevail at that point."

It was the second homer Papelbon has allowed this season and thefirst since Travis Buck's longball lifted Oakland over Bostonon May 1.

"I had him 0-2, which was exactly what I wanted to doobviously," Papelbon said. "In that situation, I've got tothrow him something that is outside the zone and I didn't dothat."

Opponents came in batting just .162 against Papelbon thisseason.

"It was a pitch I wanted to throw, no doubt about it," Papelbonsaid. "I threw it where I wanted to and I just have to thinknext time, hey, I have to throw it out of the zone and get himto chase something I meant to throw. He's obviously a greathitter. He wins some, I win some, we'll go back and forth allyear."

Brian Bruney (2-1) picked up the win with a scoreless eighth andMariano Rivera closed the door in the ninth, retiring the heartof Boston's lineup for his fifth save.

<div class="pre">"We always play like this. All games are like this a battle,"</div>Rivera said. "It definitely feels good when you win."

Boston looked poised to take the series until the Yankees scoreda run in the eighth for a 5-5 tie. Hideki Matsui singled andcame around on Robinson Cano's triple off reliever HidekiOkajima.

New York got to Boston starter Josh Beckett for three runs inthe fifth to forge a 4-0 lead. Melky Cabrera and Derek Jeterscored on third baseman Mike Lowell's throwing error with thebases loaded, and Jorge Posada laced a run-scoring single toright.

However, Boston's high-powered offense came through in a big wayin the bottom half against Yankees starter Andy Pettitte.Rookie Dustin Pedroia hit a bases-clearing double off the centerfield wall and scored when David Ortiz's base hit got pastright fielder Bobby Abreu, tying the game at 4-4.

"The play Abreu made in the outfield was spectacular," Torresaid. "It was a great, great victory for us. Obviously, itdoesn't make a huge dent in the lead the Red Sox have, but Ithink it did a great deal for our confidence coming in here."

Boston took a 5-4 lead when Youkilis lofted a sacrifice fly,putting Beckett in position to improve to 9-0. Beckett gave upfour runs and eight hits over 6 1/3 innings but the bullpenprevented him from joining Anaheim righthander John Lackey asthe only nine-game winners in the majors.

Pettitte, who suffered from minor back spasms, allowed five runsand seven hits with three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

"The third inning, making a pitch to Wily Mo (Pena), he justfelt something when he came out of his delivery, a little spasmin the back," Torre said. "(Posada) called us out after hestruck out Lugo. He said he was alright and you wanted tobelieve him even though you knew he wasn't alright. Then yousaw the rest of it."

The Yankees were dealt another blow before the game when it wasannounced that first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz is out 6-to-8weeks with a broken right wrist, suffered in Saturday's loss.