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Yanks' Sabathia toes rubber in Boston

Aug 6, 2011 - 3:37 PM (Sports Network) - The rivalry between New York and Boston seems to be overblown at times during the season, but this three-game set at Fenway Park is a battle for first place in the American League East.

The two ballclubs will clash again today in the second installment of this series, while the Yankees will send ace CC Sabathia to the mound in hopes of him capturing his 17th win of the season. Sabathia is looking to corral his third straight win and 10th in his last 11 starts. The lone loss during that stretch was a 2-1 setback to Tampa Bay on July 21. Also during this run Sabathia has tossed seven or more innings in each outing.

The most recent victory for the dominating lefty came against Chicago on Monday, as Sabathia scattered 10 hits through eight innings in a 3-2 win over the White Sox. He allowed two runs in eight innings and also struck out six.

The veteran hurler has plenty of experience against the Red Sox, especially since moving to the AL East. However, in 18 starts against Boston the southpaw has been inconsistent, posting a lackluster 6-8 ledger with a mediocre 3.88 earned run average.

One of those poor outings came earlier this year, as Sabathia was tattooed for six runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings of duty.

For most of the season Red Sox starter John Lackey looked lost and past his prime, and while the veteran twirler isn't exactly pitching like a Cy Young Award candidate, he is performing much better.

Lackey has not lost in his last five matchups, but the last time he was on the bump he had trouble controlling the Tribe. In a matchup against Cleveland, the right-hander allowed five runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings of work.

The right-hander is no stranger to the Bronx Bombers, as this will be his 21st start against New York. Lackey is just 7-8 with a lackluster 4.68 earned run average, and that includes his start against the Yankees earlier this year. In that contest, Lackey was punished for six runs in five innings, but thanks to some major offensive support the crafty veteran squeezed out a victory.

In Friday's series opener, Nick Swisher knocked in the eventual game-winning run in the sixth inning to send New York over the Red Sox, 3-2, and into first place in the American League East with a one-game edge on Boston.

All three of New York's runs came in the sixth against Jon Lester (11-5), who had been 8-1 in his career against Boston's bitter rival.

New York finally solved the left-hander and got 4 1/3 scoreless innings from its bullpen to hold on for an eighth straight win.

The clubs entered with identical 68-42 records, but Boston had dominated the series this year, taking eight of the first nine meetings.

But for the first time since July 7, the Red Sox are not atop the division standings, even though they spotted Lester an early 2-0 cushion and loaded the bases for the league's leading hitter in the fifth.

Recognizing the moment, Yankees manager Joe Girardi pulled starter Bartolo Colon and summoned Boone Logan for an inning-ending strikeout of Adrian Gonzalez.

New York responded in the bottom half with all three of its runs. Curtis Granderson slapped a run-scoring single to cut the deficit, a double-play ball with the bases loaded off the bat of Robinson Cano tied it, and Swisher hit a sharp groundball past a diving Kevin Youkilis along the third-base line to plate the go-ahead tally.

The Yankees' relievers maintained the slim margin from there. Logan (3-2) and Cory Wade combined for a scoreless sixth, Rafael Soriano hurled a 1-2-3 seventh and David Robertson used 11 pitches to retire Dustin Pedroia, Gonzalez and Youkilis in succession.

Mariano Rivera worked around a one-out single in the ninth to lock down his 29th save of the season.