GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: BOSTON (80-52) at NY YANKEES (73-59)

AL: BOSTON at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">BOSTON (3) VS NY YANKEES (4) - FINAL

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Lugo ss 4 0 0 0 1 0 1 .238
D Pedroia 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .316
D Ortiz dh 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 .322
M Lowell 3b 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 .324
K Youkilis 1b 3 1 1 2 1 1 0 .290
J Drew rf 3 0 1 0 1 1 0 .260
J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 3 0 2 .264
C Crisp cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 4 .268
E Hinske lf 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 .201

Totals 29 3 4 3 7 4 10

BATTING: HR - D Ortiz (25, 6th inning off R Clemens 0 on, 1 Out), K Youkilis
(14, 8th inning off K Farnsworth 1 on, 1 Out). S - D Pedroia. RBI - D Ortiz
(89), K Youkilis 2 (71). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Crisp 1, J
Varitek 1, D Ortiz 1. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: CS - D Pedroia (1, 2nd base by R Clemens/J Posada).

FIELDING: E - J Beckett (1, throw). Outfield assists - E Hinske (A Rodriguez
at 1st base). DP: 1 (J Lugo-D Pedroia-K Youkilis).


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 5 0 1 2 0 0 4 .265
D Jeter ss 4 0 2 0 0 1 0 .319
B Abreu rf 4 0 1 0 0 1 3 .287
A Rodriguez 3b 4 1 2 1 0 1 2 .306
H Matsui dh 4 0 2 0 0 1 0 .305
J Posada c 3 1 2 0 1 1 1 .333
J Giambi 1b 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 .264
A Phillips pr-1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .287
R Cano 2b 3 1 0 0 1 0 2 .300
M Cabrera cf 4 1 3 1 0 0 0 .295

Totals 35 4 14 4 2 6 16

BATTING: 2B - D Jeter (31, J Beckett). 3B - H Matsui (2, J Beckett). HR - A
Rodriguez (44, 7th inning off J Beckett 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Cabrera (58), J
Damon 2 (51), A Rodriguez (124). 2-out RBI - M Cabrera, J Damon 2, A Rodriguez.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Phillips 1, J Damon 2, J Giambi 1,
A Rodriguez 1, B Abreu 2. GIDP - A Rodriguez. Team LOB - 9.

BASERUNNING: CS - M Cabrera (5, 2nd base by J Beckett/J Varitek).


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 000 001 020 -- 3
NY YANKEES - 030 000 10x -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Beckett (L, 16-6) 6 2/3 13 4 4 1 6 1 3.29
J Lopez 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2.73
M Timlin 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.78

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
R Clemens (W, 6-5) 6 2 1 1 5 2 1 4.15
L Vizcaino (H, 10) 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.61
K Farnsworth (H, 13) 2/3 2 2 2 1 1 1 4.50
M Rivera (S, 22) 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.24

J Lopez pitched to 2 batters in the 7th.

WP - J Beckett. HBP - D Pedroia (by R Clemens). Pitches-strikes: J Beckett
113-70; J Lopez 7-2; M Timlin 16-11; R Clemens 98-56; L Vizcaino 18-8; K
Farnsworth 23-13; M Rivera 14-11. Ground balls-fly balls: J Beckett 6-6; J
Lopez 0-0; M Timlin 1-3; R Clemens 7-8; L Vizcaino 1-1; K Farnsworth 0-1; M
Rivera 4-0. Batters faced: J Beckett 31; J Lopez 2; M Timlin 4; R Clemens 25; L
Vizcaino 4; K Farnsworth 5; M Rivera 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Mark Carlson. 1B--Angel Hernandez. 2B--Ted Barrett. 3B--Derryl
Cousins.

T--3:26. Att--54,986.
Weather: 79 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to left.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
BOSTON 3
NY YANKEES 4 FINAL</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOSTON (3) AT NY YANKEES (4) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NY YANKEES 2ND: H Matsui struck out swinging. J Posada singled to center.
J Giambi fouled out to first. R Cano walked, J Posada to second. M Cabrera
singled to center, J Posada scored, R Cano to third. M Cabrera to second on
wild pitch by J Beckett. J Damon singled to left, R Cano and M Cabrera scored.
D Jeter reached on infield single to pitcher, J Damon to third, D Jeter to
second on throwing error by pitcher J Beckett. B Abreu grounded out to second.
(3 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Error) BOSTON 0, NY YANKEES 3.

BOSTON 6TH: D Pedroia flied out to center. D Ortiz homered to right.
M Lowell grounded out to second. K Youkilis walked. J Drew singled to right,
K Youkilis to third. J Varitek grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
BOSTON 1, NY YANKEES 3.

NY YANKEES 7TH: D Jeter lined out to center. B Abreu struck out swinging.
A Rodriguez homered to left. J Lopez relieved J Beckett. H Matsui singled to
left center. J Posada walked, H Matsui to second. M Timlin relieved J Lopez.
A Phillips fouled out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 1, NY YANKEES 4.

BOSTON 8TH: K Farnsworth relieved L Vizcaino. D Ortiz flied out to center.
M Lowell singled to center. K Youkilis homered to left, M Lowell scored.
J Drew struck out swinging. J Varitek walked. M Rivera relieved K Farnsworth.
C Crisp grounded out to pitcher. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, NY YANKEES 4.</div>

 

Clemens, Damon lead Yankees past Red Sox

<h3>NY YANKEES 4, BOSTON 3</h3>BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox could not domuch against one former teammate and again could not containanother.


Roger Clemens tossed six solid innings and Johnny Damondelivered a two-run single as the New York Yankees crept closerin the division race Wednesday with a 4-3 victory over the RedSox.


Alex Rodriguez added an important home run for New York (74-59),which climbed within six games of first-place Boston (80-53) inthe American League East Division. The Yankees also pulledeven with the Seattle Mariners (73-58) atop the wild cardstandings.


Clemens (6-5) carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning despitewalking four over the first five frames. The seven-time CyYoung Award winner retired leadoff hitter Dustin Pedroia in thefifth before David Ortiz launched a towering home run to rightfield, spoiling the no-hit bid as well as the shutout.

But Clemens got Jason Varitek to ground out with runners on thecorners and two outs later in the inning and turned over thegame to the bullpen. The future Hall of Famer yielded one runand two hits with five walks and two strikeouts.


Luis Vizcaino tossed a scoreless seventh, but Kyle Farnsworthran into trouble in the eighth, allowing a one-out single byMike Lowell before Kevin Youkilis belted a two-run shot to left,reducing Boston's deficit to 4-3.


Farnsworth came back to strike out J.D. Drew but then walkedVaritek, prompting Yankees manager Joe Torre to call upon closerMariano Rivera, who retired Coco Crisp on a weak comebacker toend the inning.


Rivera then set down the side quietly in the ninth for his 22ndsave.


The Yankees gave Clemens all the support he needed in the secondinning, scoring three times against major league wins leaderJosh Beckett (16-6). Jorge Posada started the rally with aone-out single and Robinson Cano drew a two-out walk beforeMelky Cabrera delivered an RBI base hit to center field.

Following a wild pitch, Damon - who won Tuesday's game with atwo-run homer - singled to left-center, plating both runners fora 3-0 lead.


Ortiz's 25th blast of the season got the Red Sox within tworuns, but Rodriguez lined a shot over the left-center field wallwith two outs in the seventh for his 44th homer and a 4-1advantage.


Beckett lasted 6 2/3 innings, surrendering four runs and acareer-high 13 hits. The righthander walked one and struck outsix.

 

AL: BOSTON at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOSTON (3) AT NY YANKEES (4) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

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

Umpires -- Mark Carlson (HP), Angel Hernandez (1B), Ted Barrett (2B),
Derryl Cousins (3B).

Gametime Weather: 79 degrees, Clear, wind out to left at 9 mph.


BOSTON 1ST: J Lugo grounded out to first. D Pedroia hit by pitch.
D Pedroia caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. D Ortiz flied out to
center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 1ST: J Damon grounded out to first. D Jeter doubled to deep
right. B Abreu popped out to third. A Rodriguez struck out looking. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, NY YANKEES 0.

BOSTON 2ND: M Lowell flied out to left. K Youkilis flied out to right.
J Drew walked. J Varitek walked, J Drew to second. C Crisp grounded out to
first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 2ND: H Matsui struck out swinging. J Posada singled to center.
J Giambi fouled out to first. R Cano walked, J Posada to second. M Cabrera
singled to center, J Posada scored, R Cano to third. M Cabrera to second on
wild pitch by J Beckett. J Damon singled to left, R Cano and M Cabrera scored.
D Jeter reached on infield single to pitcher, J Damon to third, D Jeter to
second on throwing error by pitcher J Beckett. B Abreu grounded out to second.
(3 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Error) BOSTON 0, NY YANKEES 3.

BOSTON 3RD: E Hinske walked. J Lugo grounded out to first, E Hinske to
second. D Pedroia sacrificed to pitcher, E Hinske to third. D Ortiz flied out
to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, NY YANKEES 3.

NY YANKEES 3RD: A Rodriguez singled to left, A Rodriguez out at first returning
to base. H Matsui tripled to deep left center. J Posada struck out looking.
J Giambi struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, NY YANKEES 3.

BOSTON 4TH: M Lowell popped out to first. K Youkilis struck out swinging.
J Drew flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, NY YANKEES 3.

NY YANKEES 4TH: R Cano grounded out to second. M Cabrera reached on
infield single to first. J Damon popped out to shortstop. M Cabrera caught
stealing second, catcher to second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0,
NY YANKEES 3.

BOSTON 5TH: J Varitek walked. C Crisp struck out swinging. E Hinske flied
out to center. J Lugo grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
BOSTON 0, NY YANKEES 3.

NY YANKEES 5TH: D Jeter struck out swinging. B Abreu reached on infield
single to catcher. A Rodriguez grounded into double play, shortstop to second
to first, B Abreu out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, NY YANKEES 3.

BOSTON 6TH: D Pedroia flied out to center. D Ortiz homered to right.
M Lowell grounded out to second. K Youkilis walked. J Drew singled to right,
K Youkilis to third. J Varitek grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
BOSTON 1, NY YANKEES 3.

NY YANKEES 6TH: H Matsui lined out to right. J Posada singled to right.
J Giambi singled to right center, J Posada to second. R Cano flied out to left.
A Phillips ran for J Giambi. M Cabrera reached on infield single to shortstop,
J Posada to third, A Phillips to second. J Damon grounded out to first.
(0 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 1, NY YANKEES 3.

BOSTON 7TH: A Phillips at first base. L Vizcaino relieved R Clemens.
C Crisp struck out swinging. E Hinske grounded out to first. J Lugo walked.
D Pedroia flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 1, NY YANKEES 3.

NY YANKEES 7TH: D Jeter lined out to center. B Abreu struck out swinging.
A Rodriguez homered to left. J Lopez relieved J Beckett. H Matsui singled to
left center. J Posada walked, H Matsui to second. M Timlin relieved J Lopez.
A Phillips fouled out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 1, NY YANKEES 4.

BOSTON 8TH: K Farnsworth relieved L Vizcaino. D Ortiz flied out to center.
M Lowell singled to center. K Youkilis homered to left, M Lowell scored.
J Drew struck out swinging. J Varitek walked. M Rivera relieved K Farnsworth.
C Crisp grounded out to pitcher. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, NY YANKEES 4.

NY YANKEES 8TH: R Cano grounded out to shortstop. M Cabrera popped out to
third. J Damon lined out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3,
NY YANKEES 4.

BOSTON 9TH: E Hinske grounded out to pitcher. J Lugo grounded out to
third. D Pedroia grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3,
NY YANKEES 4.</div>

 

Clemens, Damon lead Yankees past Red Sox

<h3>NY YANKEES 4, BOSTON 3</h3>BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox could not domuch against one former teammate and again could not containanother.


Roger Clemens tossed six solid innings and Johnny Damondelivered a two-run single as the New York Yankees crept closerin the division race Wednesday with a 4-3 victory over the RedSox.


Alex Rodriguez added an important home run for New York (74-59),which climbed within six games of first-place Boston (80-53) inthe American League East Division. The Yankees, who improvedto a major league-best 31-16 since the All-Star break, alsopulled even with the Seattle Mariners (73-58) atop the wild cardstandings.


"Roger was great tonight," Rodriguez said. "He threw great, andhe brings a lot to this team. He's as big a reason for thisresurgence."


Clemens (6-5) carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning despitewalking four over the first five frames. The seven-time CyYoung Award winner retired leadoff hitter Dustin Pedroia in thefifth before David Ortiz launched a towering home run to rightfield, spoiling the no-hit bid as well as the shutout.

But Clemens got Jason Varitek to ground out with runners on thecorners and two outs later in the inning and turned over thegame to the bullpen. The future Hall of Famer yielded one runand two hits with a season-high five walks and two strikeouts.

"I was trying to be as stingy as possible," said the 45-year-oldClemens, who starred for the Red Sox from 1984-96. "I'm askingmy body to be 25 again. I'm pitching behind Andy Pettitte (inthe rotation) right now and we just have to win."


"Taking him out was tough to do," Yankees manager Joe Torresaid. "With a three-run lead, it's up to him. He's pitchingbecause it's still fun for him. It's a piece of history you'rewatching out there. I was thinking, 'If it's a no-hitter, he'sgoing to stay out there.'"


Luis Vizcaino tossed a scoreless seventh, but Kyle Farnsworthran into trouble in the eighth, allowing a one-out single byMike Lowell before Kevin Youkilis belted a two-run shot to left,reducing Boston's deficit to 4-3.


"I thought it could provide a spark, but unfortunately, itdidn't," Youkilis said of his career-high 14th homer.

Farnsworth came back to strike out J.D. Drew but then walkedVaritek, prompting Torre to call upon closer Mariano Rivera, whoretired Coco Crisp on a weak comebacker to end the inning.

Rivera then set down the side quietly in the ninth for his 22ndsave.


The Yankees gave Clemens all the support he needed in the secondinning, scoring three times against major league wins leaderJosh Beckett (16-6). Jorge Posada started the rally with aone-out single and Robinson Cano drew a two-out walk beforeMelky Cabrera delivered an RBI base hit to center field.

Following a wild pitch, Damon - who won Tuesday's game with atwo-run homer - singled to left-center, plating both runners fora 3-0 lead.


"There was a lot of room over there," Torre said, referring towhere Damon placed his hit. "He did a good job."


"Johnny's a big part of this offense," Rodriguez added. "Wedon't do anything without Johnny Damon."


Despite coming up with two big hits in as many days against hisformer team, Damon does not find it any more sweeter thanhelping the Yankees defeat any other club.


"It doesn't matter who we beat," said Damon, who was the herofor Boston in Game Seven of its AL Championship Series win overNew York in 2004. "I know you guys want me to say it matters.(I) just go out there and try to help my team win."

Ortiz's 25th blast of the season got the Red Sox within tworuns. The power-hitting designated hitter thought the homermight provide a spark for his team but admitted it was difficultgetting to Clemens.


"At the time, I thought it could," Ortiz said. "(But) he washitting his spots. He's been steady for so long. At that age,I'll be cutting grass in my backyard."


The spark was extinguished in the seventh by Rodriguez, wholined a shot over the left-center field wall with two outs forhis major league-leading 44th homer and a 4-1 advantage. Itproved to be the difference, something the All-Star thirdbaseman was not expecting it to be when he hit it.

"I wasn't thinking about it at the time, but Joe's beenadvocating that every at-bat is important," Rodriguez said."That's a great team over there."


"It came down to really one pitch," Beckett said. "It was agood pitch in a good spot to a good hitter."


The blast was the 508th of Rodriguez's career, tying him withToronto's Frank Thomas for 20th place on the all-time list.

Beckett lasted 6 2/3 innings, surrendering four runs and acareer-high 13 hits. The righthander walked one and struck outsix.


"My job is to execute pitches," Beckett said. "They fouled goodpitches off and (got) good swings. They get good swings, theyget hits. ... I've been better, but I've definitely been worse."

"I saw a guy who left every ounce of what he had out there,"Boston manager Terry Francona said of Beckett. "There were someballs that were hit hard - that's part of the game - like thathit by Johnny Damon."


The Red Sox played without star left fielder Manny Ramirez, wholeft Tuesday's series opener with muscle spasms in his lowerback. The slugger also is not expected to play in Thursday'sfinale against the Yankees.


"I don't think it's going to be a couple of days," Franconasaid. "We'll just need to play this one out."