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Red Sox go for two in a row over Yankees

Apr 9, 2011 - 2:33 PM (Sports Network) - With the weight of the world now off their shoulders the Boston Red Sox will try to make it two straight wins this afternoon when they play the middle test of their three-game series against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park.

After starting a season 0-6 for the first time since 1945, the Red Sox finally found the win column on Friday in the 100th home opener at Fenway. Dustin Pedroia had three hits and three RBI, including a solo homer, and Boston overcame another shaky start by John Lackey to beat the Yankees 9-6.

The nine runs scored by the Red Sox were more than half their combined total on the season. The six straight losses to open the year was the team's worst start since losing the first eight 66 years ago.

"I've never seen a team so happy to be 1-6," said Boston manager Terry Francona.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia delivered a the go-ahead RBI double in the fifth and the Yankees were held scoreless in the last four innings after getting at least one run in each of the first five.

Lackey (1-1) got the win despite giving up all six New York runs on seven hits in five innings. Alfredo Aceves, Bobby Jenks, Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon finished the game, with Papelbon pitching the ninth for his first save.

Bartolo Colon (0-1) took the loss, giving up two runs (one earned) in 4 1/3 innings of relief. Yankees starter Phil Hughes lasted just two innings, allowing six runs.

Alex Rodriguez hit a solo homer, his third of the season, and scored three runs as New York dropped to 4-3.el for the second time in three tries.

Heading to the mound this afternoon for Boston will be righty Clay Buchholz, who absorbed the loss on Sunday in Texas. Buchholz, a 17-game winner a year ago, surrendered four runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings to the Rangers.

The 26-year-old right-hander is 1-2 with a 5.79 ERA in five starts against the Yankees.

Opposing him will be rookie right-hander Ivan Nova, who will try to follow up a terrific outing his first time out. Nova defeated the Minnesota Twins on Monday, allowing three runs and six hits in six innings.

Nova, who is 0-2 in two appearances against the Red Sox, won the fourth starter job thanks to an impressive spring that saw him pitch to a 1.80 earned run average over 20 innings.

The Yankees have split their 18-game season series with the Red Sox in each of the last three years.