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Red Sox, Yankees set for showdown in the Bronx

Jun 7, 2011 - 3:21 PM (Sports Network) - Many figured that the American League East would be a two- horse race between the rival New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. With the two teams set to meet for the third time this season, the battle for first place is officially on.

The Yankees, though, have had their share of problems with the Red Sox this year and carry just a one-game edge for first place over Boston into tonight's opener of a three-game series in the Bronx.

Just two seasons removed from their 27th World Series championship, the Yankees have held at least a share of first place in the AL East for 46 of the season's first 68 days and currently own the best record in the league at 33-24.

However, New York has lost five of six to the Red Sox this year, including a three-game sweep at home from May 13-15 that was Boston's first road sweep in this series since April 23-25, 2004.

That series victory pulled the Red Sox to within three games of first place in the division at the time and is part of their current 16-6 run. Boston put itself in an early hole when it began the season 0-6, but got its first win of this season over New York on April 8 and took two of three in that home set.

The Red Sox, who held at least a tie for first place from May 26-30, have won seven of eight and 10 of their last 13 versus New York, as well as eight of the past 11 at Yankee Stadium. Boston hasn't won four straight in the Bronx since a four-game run that bridged the 1999 (Sept. 10-12) and 2000 (May 26) seasons.

Boston recently rebounded from a four-game slide by sweeping a three-game set from the Athletics, taking Sunday's finale 6-3. John Lackey returned from the disabled list to allow three runs over 5 2/3 innings and earn his third victory of the season.

"Good place to start coming off the [DL]," said Lackey, who had been out since May 12 with a right elbow sprain. "My slider was a little sharper than it has been."

Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run homer and Carl Crawford blasted a three-run shot for the Red Sox, who begin a nine-game road trip with this series.

Like the Red Sox, Crawford continues to dig himself out of an early slump. He is 8-for-19 over his past five games with a homer and eight runs batted in. The speedy outfielder has a trio of four-hit games over his past 11 contests and is 6-for-20 in his career off tonight's starter for New York, Freddy Garcia, with a homer and two RBI.

Garcia continues to be a pleasant surprise for New York as he is 4-4 with a 3.34 earned run average in 10 games, including nine starts, this year and won his second straight outing on Tuesday in Oakland. The right-hander gave up three runs on nine hits and two walks over a season high-tying seven innings, striking out five in a 10-3 victory.

The 34-year-old Garcia faced the Red Sox in relief on April 10, giving up a run in an inning of work, and then took a loss in a start on May 15, yielding five runs -- four earned -- on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He was touched for homers by Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz, falling to 8-3 with a 4.56 ERA in his career versus the Red Sox.

Jon Lester started that game for Boston and will counter Garcia again tonight. Lester picked up the victory despite allowing four runs over six innings, including homers to Curtis Granderson and Andruw Jones, improving to 7-1 with a 3.49 ERA in 13 career starts versus the Yankees.

That win was part of the left-hander's seven-decision winning streak that ended last Monday versus the White Sox. Lester was denied a fourth straight winning start after allowing a season-high seven runs on eight hits and four walks over just 5 2/3 innings of work. He also threw a season-high 127 pitches, but will go on seven days' rest tonight.

"I didn't think he commanded very well. He scattered a lot of pitches," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "We have to get him back to establishing fastball, changeup, breaking ball and using that cutter to put people away."

The 27-year-old Lester lost for the first time since April 12, falling to 7-2 with a 3.94 ERA. He is perfect on the road in seven starts, going 4-0 with a 3.30 ERA.

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is 12-for-38 (.316) lifetime versus Lester and he went 1-for-5 in Sunday's 5-3 victory over the Angels to get within 14 hits of 3,000 for his career.

Mark Teixeira smashed a pair of homers in that win and Nick Swisher also went deep for the Yankees, who compiled a 6-3 mark on their road trip and have won 13 of 18 since a six-game slide. New York begins a 10-game homestand tonight.

"I'm just trying to be aggressive. When I see a pitch I can drive, I try not to miss it," said Teixeira, who has nine homers and 19 RBI over his past 16 games.

Bartolo Colon gave up three runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings to earn the win.