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Yankees-Red Sox Preview

May 7, 2010 - 4:49 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

New York (19-8) at Boston (14-14), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The deliberate pace of play between two of baseball's biggest rivals became a focal point after an umpire criticized the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees during their season-opening series.

The Red Sox would probably be happy to play all night if it would help them gain ground in the AL East.

A season-best four-game winning streak has Boston over .500 for the first time since it beat New York on opening day, but the banged-up Yankees will also be seeking a fifth consecutive victory Friday night at Fenway Park.

Speaking to The Record of New Jersey, umpire Joe West called the clubs' slow play "embarrassing" after the Yankees won two of three in Boston to begin the season, with each game lasting at least 3 hours, 20 minutes.

"I don't see what's embarrassing about it. Opposed to what? 20 minutes shorter and it's not embarrassing?" Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter said. "At what point is it not embarrassing? You go over what, 3:12, and it's embarrassing?"

The rivals found some common ground in their dismay regarding West's comments.

"It surprised all of us," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "When you have somebody in charge of running the game without bias and you hear those comments coming out pretty strong, it worries you a little bit."

Boston (15-14) was more concerned after its first losing April since 1996, but the Red Sox bounced back from three straight losses at Baltimore with a four-game home sweep of Los Angeles this week. Boston scored 36 runs while batting .366 during the series.

Victor Martinez entered the series hitting .233 but hit in all four games, homering and driving in four in an 11-6 win Thursday night.

J.D. Drew was batting .214 before going 7 for 15 with three walks, six runs and four RBIs against the Angels, while Adrian Beltre hit his first two home runs of the season in the series.

"We just stepped up and played good baseball and we got good results," Martinez said.

The Red Sox, however, remain in fourth place in the AL East, five games behind the Yankees and 6 1/2 back of division-leading Tampa Bay.

New York (19-8) has overcome injuries to win seven of eight, sweeping a three-game series from visiting Baltimore this week.

The Yankees hope to get closer Mariano Rivera (stiff left side) and catcher Jorge Posada (tight calf) back against the Red Sox, but center fielder Curtis Granderson (groin) remains on the disabled list.

Playing in place of Posada, Francisco Cervelli went 4 for 7 in the last two games, while New York got two saves from Joba Chamberlain and one from Alfredo Aceves against Baltimore.

"The guys that have been asked to step in have done a good job, so I feel pretty good about the quality of our roster," manager Joe Girardi said.

Phil Hughes (3-0, 1.44 ERA) has been another reason for the Yankees' strong start. The right-hander turned in his best outing of the season Sunday against Chicago, allowing four hits in seven shutout innings of a 12-3 victory.

Perhaps most importantly, Hughes walked one, a season low.

"His confidence is incredible," first baseman Mark Teixeira told the Yankees' official website. "He's throwing every single pitch with authority."

Hughes has not pitched the same way against Boston, going 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA in two starts.

Boston ace Josh Beckett (1-0, 6.31) has also had some recent problems in the rivalry, giving up 13 runs and seven homers in 12 2-3 innings in his last two outings against New York.

He allowed five runs in 4 2-3 innings on opening day April 4 before the Red Sox came back to win 9-7.

Beckett gave up 15 runs in 10 innings in his final two starts of April, but he was much better Sunday at Baltimore, allowing two runs in seven innings of a 3-2, 10-inning defeat.