• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Yankees-Red Sox Preview

Jul 12, 2015 - 4:45 AM With their home losing streak against the New York Yankees over, the Boston Red Sox can try for an accomplishment that has eluded them for two years - beating their arch rivals in a series at Fenway Park.

That task will fall Sunday afternoon to Wade Miley, who has been a steady presence in Boston's rotation over recent weeks.

The Red Sox (42-46) had lost five straight against New York (47-40) before Saturday's 5-3 victory. Hanley Ramirez hit his 19th home run, Alejandro De Aza had two hits and two runs and Eduardo Rodriguez pitched 6 1-3 innings in Boston's ninth win in 12 games.

They haven't won a series against the Yankees at Fenway since Sept 13-15, 2013.

''Everyone in that dugout knows full well where we are,'' manager John Farrell said. ''Tonight was a big win for us, with a chance to win the series tomorrow.''

Miley (8-7, 4.50 ERA) has yet to record a win against the Yankees despite a 1.05 WHIP in three meetings, but has won three of his last five games overall while posting a 3.26 ERA - best among active Red Sox starters since June 16.

The left-hander recorded a season-high nine strikeouts Tuesday, surrendering three runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 4-3 win against Miami.

"Wade's performance tonight was a very strong one," Farrell said. "He was sharp. He had a very good fastball."

New York will enter the All-Star break leading the AL East for the first time since 2012 thanks to a high-powered offense, though runs have been more difficult to come by lately. Ranking second in baseball with 4.6 runs per game, the Yankees have averaged 3.3 runs in their last 12 games while scoring three or fewer eight times.

Jacoby Ellsbury and Alex Rodriguez have been bright spots in that effort, each hitting a home run on Saturday. Ellsbury is hitting .353 with four RBIs in four games since returning from a right knee sprain. Rodriguez has homered in three of his last five games and has hit safely in all eight contests against the Red Sox this season, batting .345.

Nathan Eovaldi (8-2, 4.45) will take the mound for New York looking to replicate his performance at Boston on May 2, when he allowed two runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 4-2 win.

The right-hander had a 5.12 ERA through 13 outings this season, but has not allowed more than two runs in any of his last four starts. He gave up two over 5 1-3 innings before leaving without a decision in a 4-3 loss to Oakland on Tuesday.

"I feel like I threw the ball pretty well tonight," Eovaldi told MLB's official website. "My split felt good tonight. I've just got to do a better job of going deeper into ballgames.

This is an extremely favorable matchup for Pablo Sandoval, who is 12 for 17 with a home run and three doubles against Eovaldi. Among current players with at least 17 at-bats, Sandoval is tied with Washington's Anthony Rendon (against Atlanta's Alex Wood) for MLB's best batting average against a single pitcher.