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Yankees-Red Sox Preview

May 9, 2010 - 3:28 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

New York (20-8) at Boston (15-15), 8:05 p.m. EDT

The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have become infamous for playing lengthy games in recent seasons, but Boston has been surprisingly swift in slipping from relevance in the AL East race.

Two blowout losses this weekend have not helped, and the Yankees can complete an emphatic three-game sweep at Fenway Park with a seventh straight win Sunday night.

The archrivals were called "pathetic and embarrassing" for their slow play by umpire Joe West last month, and Saturday's game did little to quiet critics. The 3 hours, 56 minutes - not including a 1 hour, 14 minute rain delay - were especially painful for Boston, which lost 14-3.

Any momentum the Red Sox (15-16) gained with a four-game sweep of Los Angeles this week has been quickly squelched by the Yankees, who won 10-3 in the series opener Friday.

Boston's season began with a 9-7 home win over the Yankees on April 4, but the Red Sox have since gone 0-8 against New York and Tampa Bay, with all the losses to the AL East's top teams coming at Fenway.

Boston, which has dropped 13 of 15 to New York, trails the Rays by 7 1/2 games and the Yankees by seven, not to mention Toronto by 2 1/2.

"It doesn't matter who you play," Red Sox catcher Victor Martinez said. "You always want to go out there and get the best out of it."

New York (21-8) has matched a season high with six straight victories, and the Yankees are only getting healthier. Mariano Rivera (stiff side) has been available to pitch this weekend, and Robinson Cano did not miss a start after getting hit by a pitch in the knee Friday.

Nick Johnson (wrist) joined Curtis Granderson (groin) on the disabled list Saturday, but the Yankees expect to have Jorge Posada (calf tightness) in the lineup Sunday for the first time in six days.

Posada will be the designated hitter, meaning catcher Francisco Cervelli will get another start. Cervelli had a career-high five RBIs on Saturday and has gone 9 for 14 (.643) in his last four games.

"I do my best. That's all I can do," Cervelli said. "I play every game like it's my last."

Mark Teixeira also keyed Saturday's blowout, becoming the only Yankee other than Lou Gehrig to hit three home runs against the Red Sox. Teixeira, a notoriously slow starter who was batting .181 entering the game, went 4 for 6 with five RBIs.

"I don't know why I have slow starts," Teixeira said, "but I end up having good seasons."

The Yankees will face a hot pitcher in Jon Lester, who has allowed one run over 20 2-3 innings in his last three starts.

Lester (2-2, 3.93 ERA) has quickly found his form after going 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA in his first three outings. He pitched a season-high eight innings in a 5-1 win over the Angels on Tuesday.

New York's A.J. Burnett (4-0, 1.99) has been just as good lately, holding opponents without an earned run in three of his last four starts. He gave up one unearned run in 7 1-3 innings of a 4-1 win over Baltimore on Tuesday.

"I feel more like myself than I have in a long time," Burnett said.

Lester and Burnett squared off at Fenway on April 6, with each allowing four runs in five innings of New York's 6-4 win. Burnett did not get the decision and is 0-2 with an 11.72 ERA in four starts at Boston since joining the Yankees last year.