GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: BOSTON (80-51) at NY YANKEES (72-59)

AL: BOSTON at NY YANKEES

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

BATTERIES: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA, JAVIER LOPEZ (7TH), MANNY DELCARMEN (7TH)
AND JASON VARITEK

NYY - ANDY PETTITTE, JOBA CHAMBERLAIN (8TH), MARIANO
RIVERA (9TH) AND JORGE POSADA

HOME RUNS: BOS - MANNY RAMIREZ (20) OFF ANDY PETTITTE IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
JASON VARITEK (12) OFF ANDY PETTITTE IN THE 7TH, 0 ON

NYY - DEREK JETER (9) OFF DAISUKE MATSUZAKA IN THE 5TH, 0 ON
JOHNNY DAMON (9) OFF DAISUKE MATSUZAKA IN THE 7TH, 1 ON</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at NY YANKEES

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

BATTERIES: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA, JAVIER LOPEZ (7TH), MANNY DELCARMEN (7TH)
AND JASON VARITEK

NYY - ANDY PETTITTE, JOBA CHAMBERLAIN (8TH), MARIANO
RIVERA (9TH) AND JORGE POSADA


WP - ANDY PETTITTE (12-7)
LP - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA (13-11)
SAVE - MARIANO RIVERA (21)

HOME RUNS: BOS - MANNY RAMIREZ (20) OFF ANDY PETTITTE IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
JASON VARITEK (12) OFF ANDY PETTITTE IN THE 7TH, 0 ON

NYY - DEREK JETER (9) OFF DAISUKE MATSUZAKA IN THE 5TH, 0 ON
JOHNNY DAMON (9) OFF DAISUKE MATSUZAKA IN THE 7TH, 1 ON


TIME: 3:11 ATT: 55,037

PROBABLES: BOS - JOSH BECKETT (16-5, 3.21)
NYY - ROGER CLEMENS (5-5, 4.34)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">BOSTON (3) VS NY YANKEES (5) - FINAL

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .318
K Youkilis 1b 2 0 0 0 2 1 1 .290
D Ortiz dh 3 0 0 1 0 1 3 .322
M Ramirez lf 3 1 2 1 0 1 1 .292
B Kielty lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
a-E Hinske ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .206
M Lowell 3b 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .324
J Drew rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 4 .259
J Varitek c 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 .265
C Crisp cf 4 0 0 0 0 3 2 .270
J Lugo ss 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 .240

Totals 32 3 7 3 3 10 15

a-struck out swinging for B Kielty in the 8th.

BATTING: 3B - J Lugo (2, A Pettitte). HR - M Ramirez (20, 2nd inning off A
Pettitte 0 on, 0 Out), J Varitek (12, 7th inning off A Pettitte 0 on, 0 Out).
SF - D Ortiz. RBI - M Ramirez (86), D Ortiz (88), J Varitek (57). Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - J Drew 1. GIDP - J Drew. Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: E - M Ramirez (2, bobble).


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 4 2 2 2 0 0 0 .266
D Jeter ss 3 1 1 1 1 0 0 .318
B Abreu rf 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 .287
A Rodriguez 3b 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 .305
H Matsui dh 4 0 0 1 0 0 2 .303
J Posada c 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 .331
R Cano 2b 4 0 1 0 0 1 3 .302
A Phillips 1b 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .289
W Betemit pr-1b 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 .196
M Cabrera cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291

Totals 30 5 7 5 3 3 8

BATTING: 2B - J Posada (36, D Matsuzaka). 3B - R Cano (7, M Delcarmen). HR - D
Jeter (9, 5th inning off D Matsuzaka 0 on, 2 Out), J Damon (9, 7th inning off D
Matsuzaka 1 on, 1 Out). S - M Cabrera. RBI - H Matsui (91), J Posada (78), D
Jeter (59), J Damon 2 (49). 2-out RBI - J Posada, D Jeter. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - W Betemit 1, R Cano 3, H Matsui 1. Team LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: SB - A Rodriguez (19, 2nd base off D Matsuzaka/J Varitek).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (R Cano-D Jeter-A Phillips).


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 011 000 100 -- 3
NY YANKEES - 200 010 20x -- 5
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka (L, 13-11) 6 1/3 6 5 5 3 2 2 3.88
J Lopez 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.73
M Delcarmen 1 1/3 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.30

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
A Pettitte (W, 12-7) 7 6 3 3 2 6 2 3.70
J Chamberlain (H, 4) 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 0.00
M Rivera (S, 21) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.32

HBP - A Rodriguez (by D Matsuzaka). Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 110-62; J
Lopez 1-1; M Delcarmen 25-17; A Pettitte 119-70; J Chamberlain 19-11; M Rivera
14-9. Ground balls-fly balls: D Matsuzaka 10-7; J Lopez 1-0; M Delcarmen 2-1; A
Pettitte 6-9; J Chamberlain 0-1; M Rivera 0-1. Batters faced: D Matsuzaka 29; J
Lopez 1; M Delcarmen 5; A Pettitte 28; J Chamberlain 5; M Rivera 3.

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

T--3:11. Att--55,037.
Weather: 77 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, left to
right.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
BOSTON 3
NY YANKEES 5 FINAL</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOSTON (3) AT NY YANKEES (5) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NY YANKEES 1ST: J Damon singled to center. D Jeter grounded out to
pitcher, J Damon to second. B Abreu walked. A Rodriguez hit by pitch, J Damon
to third, B Abreu to second. H Matsui grounded into fielder's choice to
second, J Damon scored, A Rodriguez out at second, B Abreu to third. J Posada
doubled to left, B Abreu scored, H Matsui to third. R Cano flied out to
center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, NY YANKEES 2.

BOSTON 2ND: M Ramirez homered to right. M Lowell flied out to left.
J Drew grounded out to first. J Varitek walked. C Crisp struck out swinging.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 1, NY YANKEES 2.

BOSTON 3RD: J Lugo tripled to deep center. D Pedroia grounded out to
pitcher. K Youkilis walked. D Ortiz hit sacrifice fly to left, J Lugo scored.
M Ramirez struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, NY YANKEES 2.

NY YANKEES 5TH: M Cabrera grounded out to pitcher. J Damon popped out to
first. D Jeter homered to right. B Abreu grounded out to first. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, NY YANKEES 3.

BOSTON 7TH: J Varitek homered to left. C Crisp struck out swinging.
J Lugo flied out to center. D Pedroia grounded out to pitcher. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) BOSTON 3, NY YANKEES 3.

NY YANKEES 7TH: B Kielty in left field. A Phillips singled to left center.
W Betemit ran for A Phillips. M Cabrera sacrificed to pitcher, W Betemit to
second. J Damon homered to right, W Betemit scored. D Jeter walked. J Lopez
relieved D Matsuzaka. B Abreu grounded into fielder's choice to second, D Jeter
out at second. M Delcarmen relieved J Lopez. A Rodriguez grounded into
fielder's choice to third, B Abreu out at second. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
BOSTON 3, NY YANKEES 5.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOSTON (3) AT NY YANKEES (5) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

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

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

Gametime Weather: 77 degrees, Cloudy, wind left to right at 8 mph.


BOSTON 1ST: D Pedroia lined out to right. K Youkilis grounded out to
shortstop. D Ortiz lined out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0,
NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 1ST: J Damon singled to center. D Jeter grounded out to
pitcher, J Damon to second. B Abreu walked. A Rodriguez hit by pitch, J Damon
to third, B Abreu to second. H Matsui grounded into fielder's choice to
second, J Damon scored, A Rodriguez out at second, B Abreu to third. J Posada
doubled to left, B Abreu scored, H Matsui to third. R Cano flied out to
center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, NY YANKEES 2.

BOSTON 2ND: M Ramirez homered to right. M Lowell flied out to left.
J Drew grounded out to first. J Varitek walked. C Crisp struck out swinging.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 1, NY YANKEES 2.

NY YANKEES 2ND: A Phillips grounded out to second. M Cabrera flied out to
center. J Damon grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 1,
NY YANKEES 2.

BOSTON 3RD: J Lugo tripled to deep center. D Pedroia grounded out to
pitcher. K Youkilis walked. D Ortiz hit sacrifice fly to left, J Lugo scored.
M Ramirez struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, NY YANKEES 2.

NY YANKEES 3RD: D Jeter flied out to right. B Abreu grounded out to
catcher. A Rodriguez walked. A Rodriguez stole second. H Matsui fouled out to
catcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, NY YANKEES 2.

BOSTON 4TH: M Lowell singled to left. J Drew struck out swinging.
J Varitek fouled out to first. C Crisp flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) BOSTON 2, NY YANKEES 2.

NY YANKEES 4TH: J Posada popped out to shortstop. R Cano grounded out to
third. A Phillips struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2,
NY YANKEES 2.

BOSTON 5TH: J Lugo flied out to left. D Pedroia singled to left.
K Youkilis struck out swinging. D Ortiz struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) BOSTON 2, NY YANKEES 2.

NY YANKEES 5TH: M Cabrera grounded out to pitcher. J Damon popped out to
first. D Jeter homered to right. B Abreu grounded out to first. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, NY YANKEES 3.

BOSTON 6TH: M Ramirez singled to center. M Lowell flied out to right.
J Drew grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, M Ramirez out at
second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, NY YANKEES 3.

NY YANKEES 6TH: A Rodriguez flied out to right. H Matsui grounded out to
catcher. J Posada singled to left, J Posada to second on error by left fielder
M Ramirez. R Cano struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) BOSTON 2,
NY YANKEES 3.

BOSTON 7TH: J Varitek homered to left. C Crisp struck out swinging.
J Lugo flied out to center. D Pedroia grounded out to pitcher. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) BOSTON 3, NY YANKEES 3.

NY YANKEES 7TH: B Kielty in left field. A Phillips singled to left center.
W Betemit ran for A Phillips. M Cabrera sacrificed to pitcher, W Betemit to
second. J Damon homered to right, W Betemit scored. D Jeter walked. J Lopez
relieved D Matsuzaka. B Abreu grounded into fielder's choice to second, D Jeter
out at second. M Delcarmen relieved J Lopez. A Rodriguez grounded into
fielder's choice to third, B Abreu out at second. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
BOSTON 3, NY YANKEES 5.

BOSTON 8TH: W Betemit at first base. J Chamberlain relieved A Pettitte.
K Youkilis walked. D Ortiz flied out to left. E Hinske hit for B Kielty.
E Hinske struck out swinging. M Lowell singled to center, K Youkilis to second.
J Drew struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, NY YANKEES 5.

NY YANKEES 8TH: E Hinske in left field. H Matsui flied out to right.
J Posada grounded out to shortstop. R Cano tripled to deep center. W Betemit
struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, NY YANKEES 5.

BOSTON 9TH: M Rivera relieved J Chamberlain. J Varitek struck out swinging.
C Crisp struck out looking. J Lugo lined out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) BOSTON 3, NY YANKEES 5.</div>

 

Damon, Pettitte help Yankees top Red Sox

<h3>NY YANKEES 5, BOSTON 3</h3>BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Andy Pettitte continued to bethe stopper for the New York Yankees. But on Tuesday, theyneeded a little more than that.


After Pettitte gave up a game-tying solo home run to JasonVaritek in the top of the seventh inning, Johnny Damon hit atwo-run shot in the bottom half as the Yankees opened athree-game series against the Boston Red Sox with a critical 5-3victory on Tuesday.


Pettitte (12-7) won his sixth straight start and third in a rowfollowing a loss by New York. In his previous two outingsfollowing defeats, the lefthander allowed two runs and 10 hitsin 15 innings.


But against the Red Sox, Pettitte was not as dominating,surrendering three runs and six hits in seven frames.

Two of those hits were solo home runs by Manny Ramirez andVaritek, whose blast came after Derek Jeter had put the Yankeesahead, 3-2, with his ninth homer of the season. The shot wasthe New York captain's first in 87 at-bats and first overall hitin 15 official trips to the plate.


Before Jeter's home run, the Yankees did little against DaisukeMatsuzaka (13-10). They scored twice in the first, but afterJorge Posada's RBI double, the Japanese righthander retired 12of the next 13 batters before Jeter's blast.


While Pettitte was able to minimize the damage followingVaritek's home run, Matsuzaka was not. He began the seventh byallowing a base hit by Andy Phillips and, just two pitcheslater, Damon - the hero in Boston's Game Seven victory over NewYork in the 2004 American League Championship Series - hit hisninth home run just over the right field wall.


It was the second straight home game in which Damon hit ago-ahead home run. Nine days ago in a 9-3 victory over theDetroit Tigers, he hit a go-ahead solo shot that sent theYankees into their seven-game road trip with three straightwins.


The Yankees lost four of seven on that trip, including Monday's16-0 embarrassing setback in Detroit, and were in danger of athird straight loss in this one.


But Damon's homer and Pettitte's gritty effort ensured thatwould not happen. Despite allowing three runs for the firsttime in four outings, he got key outs all night - including twoin the fifth, when he ended the frame by striking out KevinYoukilis and David Ortiz.


Pettitte, who also retired J.D. Drew on an inning-ending doubleplay in the sixth, then gave way to rookie Joba Chamberlain, whoworked around a leadoff walk to Youkilis and a two-out singleby Mike Lowell by striking out Drew on an 89 miles-per-hourslider.


Mariano Rivera struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 21stsave in 24 opportunites as New York (73-59) climbed within sevengames of first-place Boston (80-52) in the AL East Division.The Yankees also moved within 1 1/2 games of Seattle (73-56) forthe wild card lead.


The Mariners are hosting the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Ramirez homered in the second inning and Ortiz lifted asacrifice fly in the third to knot the game at 2-2. Ramirez hadtwo of Boston's seven hits but left the game in the seventhwith muscle spasms in his lower back.


Facing the Yankees for the third time, Matsuzaka allowed fiveruns and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. In his starts against NewYork, he has yielded 15 runs and 19 hits in 19 1/3 innings.

 

Damon, Pettitte help Yankees top Red Sox

<h3>NY YANKEES 5, BOSTON 3</h3>By Larry Fleisher
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Andy Pettitte continued to be thestopper for the New York Yankees. But on Tuesday, they needed alittle more than that.


After Pettitte gave up a game-tying solo home run to JasonVaritek in the top of the seventh inning, Johnny Damon hit atwo-run shot in the bottom half as the Yankees opened athree-game series against the Boston Red Sox with a critical 5-3victory on Tuesday.


Pettitte (12-7) won his sixth straight start and third in a rowfollowing a loss by New York. In his previous two outings afterdefeats, the lefthander allowed two runs and 10 hits in 15innings.


But against the Red Sox, Pettitte was not as dominating,surrendering three runs and six hits in seven frames, but gotthe job done.


"I'm glad I was able to throw a good game and be able to give usa chance to win," Pettitte said. "I'm extremely happy with theguys picking me up after giving up that run in the seventh. Itake a lot of pride in going out there and trying to be good."

Two of those hits were solo home runs by Manny Ramirez andVaritek, whose blast came after Derek Jeter had put the Yankeesahead, 3-2, with his ninth homer of the season. The shot wasthe New York captain's first in 87 at-bats and first overall hitin 15 official trips to the plate.


Before Jeter's home run, the Yankees did little against DaisukeMatsuzaka (13-10). They scored twice in the first, but afterJorge Posada's RBI double, the Japanese righthander retired 12of the next 13 batters before Jeter's blast.


While Pettitte was able to minimize the damage followingVaritek's home run, Matsuzaka was not. He began the seventh byallowing a base hit by Andy Phillips and, just two pitcheslater, Damon - the hero in Boston's Game Seven victory over NewYork in the 2004 American League Championship Series - hit hisninth home run just over the right field wall.


"The ball wasn't carrying tonight, but I definitely got it acouple of feet in," said Damon, who is hitting .435 in his 15starts in left field. "But it counts. I guess that's all thatmatters."


"In a game like this, a couple of mistakes go a long way,"Boston manager Terry Francona said. "A front-door cutter toJeter, got it out too much over the plate. He tried to come inon Johnny. Even though the ball didn't catch the great part ofhis bat, because it wasn't in enough, he was able to not onlykeep it fair but in a perfect part of the ballpark."

It was the second straight home game in which Damon hit ago-ahead home run. Nine days ago in a 9-3 victory over theDetroit Tigers, he hit a go-ahead solo shot that sent theYankees into their seven-game road trip with three straightwins.


"He knows how to hit," Yankees manager Joe Torre said of Damon,who battled leg injuries earlier this season. "He just knowshow to hit. There's certain situations where he wants to take aliberty. I think (hitting the ball to right field) is allhealth-related."


The Yankees lost four of seven on that road trip, includingMonday's 16-0 embarrassing setback in Detroit, and were indanger of a third straight loss in this one.


But Damon's homer and Pettitte's gritty effort ensured thatwould not happen. Despite allowing three runs for the firsttime in four outings, Pettitte got key outs all night -including two in the fifth, when he ended the frame by strikingout Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz.


"When he's on the mound with a lot of things swirling aroundhim, he keeps his focus and doesn't overcomplicate it forhimself," Torre said of the veteran Pettitte, who improved to69-33 lifetime following a Yankees loss.


"He was pretty much like he normally is," Ortiz said. "He wasmaking good pitches, locating his pitches."


Pettitte, who also retired J.D. Drew on an inning-ending doubleplay in the sixth, then gave way to rookie Joba Chamberlain, whoworked around a leadoff walk to Youkilis and a two-out singleby Mike Lowell by striking out Drew on an 89 miles-per-hourslider.


Mariano Rivera struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 21stsave in 24 opportunites as New York (73-59) climbed within sevengames of first-place Boston (80-52) in the AL East Division.The Yankees also moved within 1 1/2 games of Seattle (73-56) forthe wild card lead.


The Mariners are hosting the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Ramirez homered in the second inning and Ortiz lifted asacrifice fly in the third to knot the game at 2-2. Ramirez hadtwo of Boston's seven hits but left the game in the seventhwith muscle spasms in his lower back.


Facing the Yankees for the third time, Matsuzaka allowed fiveruns and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. In his starts against NewYork, he has yielded 15 runs and 19 hits in 19 1/3 innings.

"Both were definitely pitches that could have been prevented,"Matsuzaka said through an interpreter, speaking of the home runshe surrendered.

 

Damon, Pettitte help Yankees top Red Sox

<h3>NY YANKEES 5, BOSTON 3</h3>By Larry Fleisher
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Andy Pettitte continued to be thestopper for the New York Yankees. But on Tuesday, they needed alittle more than that.


After Pettitte gave up a game-tying solo home run to JasonVaritek in the top of the seventh inning, Johnny Damon hit atwo-run shot in the bottom half as the Yankees opened athree-game series against the Boston Red Sox with a critical 5-3victory on Tuesday.


Pettitte (12-7) won his sixth straight start and third in a rowfollowing a loss by New York. In his previous two outings afterdefeats, the lefthander allowed two runs and 10 hits in 15innings.


But against the Red Sox, Pettitte was not as dominating,surrendering three runs and six hits in seven frames, but gotthe job done.


"I'm glad I was able to throw a good game and be able to give usa chance to win," Pettitte said. "I'm extremely happy with theguys picking me up after giving up that run in the seventh. Itake a lot of pride in going out there and trying to be good."

Two of those hits were solo home runs by Manny Ramirez andVaritek, whose blast came after Derek Jeter had put the Yankeesahead, 3-2, with his ninth homer of the season. The shot wasthe New York captain's first in 87 at-bats and first overall hitin 15 official trips to the plate.


Before Jeter's home run, the Yankees did little against DaisukeMatsuzaka (13-10). They scored twice in the first, but afterJorge Posada's RBI double, the Japanese righthander retired 12of the next 13 batters before Jeter's blast.


While Pettitte was able to minimize the damage followingVaritek's home run, Matsuzaka was not. He began the seventh byallowing a base hit by Andy Phillips and, just two pitcheslater, Damon - the hero in Boston's Game Seven victory over NewYork in the 2004 American League Championship Series - hit hisninth home run just over the right field wall.


"The ball wasn't carrying tonight, but I definitely got it acouple of feet in," said Damon, who is hitting .435 in his 15starts in left field. "But it counts. I guess that's all thatmatters."


"In a game like this, a couple of mistakes go a long way,"Boston manager Terry Francona said. "A front-door cutter toJeter, got it out too much over the plate. He tried to come inon Johnny. Even though the ball didn't catch the great part ofhis bat, because it wasn't in enough, he was able to not onlykeep it fair but in a perfect part of the ballpark."

It was the second straight home game in which Damon hit ago-ahead home run. Nine days ago in a 9-3 victory over theDetroit Tigers, he hit a go-ahead solo shot that sent theYankees into their seven-game road trip with three straightwins.


"He knows how to hit," Yankees manager Joe Torre said of Damon,who battled leg injuries earlier this season. "He just knowshow to hit. There's certain situations where he wants to take aliberty. I think (hitting the ball to right field) is allhealth-related."


The Yankees lost four of seven on that road trip, includingMonday's 16-0 embarrassing setback in Detroit, and were indanger of a third straight loss in this one.


But Damon's homer and Pettitte's gritty effort ensured thatwould not happen. Despite allowing three runs for the firsttime in four outings, Pettitte got key outs all night -including two in the fifth, when he ended the frame by strikingout Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz.


"When he's on the mound with a lot of things swirling aroundhim, he keeps his focus and doesn't overcomplicate it forhimself," Torre said of the veteran Pettitte, who improved to69-33 lifetime following a Yankees loss.


"He was pretty much like he normally is," Ortiz said. "He wasmaking good pitches, locating his pitches."


Pettitte, who also retired J.D. Drew on an inning-ending doubleplay in the sixth, then gave way to rookie Joba Chamberlain, whoworked around a leadoff walk to Youkilis and a two-out singleby Mike Lowell by striking out Drew on an 89 miles-per-hourslider.


Mariano Rivera struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 21stsave in 24 opportunites as New York (73-59) climbed within sevengames of first-place Boston (80-52) in the AL East Division.The Yankees also moved within one game of Seattle (73-57) forthe lead in the wild card race.


Ramirez homered in the second inning and Ortiz lifted asacrifice fly in the third to knot the game at 2-2. Ramirez hadtwo of Boston's seven hits but left the game in the seventhwith muscle spasms in his lower back.


Facing the Yankees for the third time, Matsuzaka allowed fiveruns and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. In his starts against NewYork, he has yielded 15 runs and 19 hits in 19 1/3 innings.

"Both were definitely pitches that could have been prevented,"Matsuzaka said through an interpreter, speaking of the home runshe surrendered.