• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Yankees, Red Sox set for rubber match at Fenway Park

Aug 7, 2011 - 3:02 PM (Sports Network) - Arguably the greatest rivalry in baseball will once again be on national television, as the Boston Red Sox host the New York Yankees tonight in the finale of a three-game set that will determine first place in the American League East.

The Yankees will try to bounce back from Saturday's 10-4 loss when they send Freddy Garcia to the hill. Garcia has been hot recently, winning three consecutive trips to the bump. The last time he was on the hill he shut down Baltimore in a 4-2 victory last Sunday.

In the decision, the veteran hurler allowed just two runs in six innings of work. He scattered five hits, walked two and struck out six in the win.

Earlier this season Garcia was punished by Boston, as the Red Sox knocked the right-hander out of the game in the second inning. Garcia surrendered four runs on four hits and three walks before exiting the contest.

Red Sox righty Josh Beckett enjoyed much more success against the Bronx Bombers earlier this season, as he held the AL East foes to just two runs in seven innings. Beckett walked two in the win and also struck out six batters. The veteran hurler is now 13-7 against New York in his career, but that comes along with a weak 5.52 earned run average.

Beckett, however, comes into this game with just one victory in his last four starts. The last time the former World Series MVP was on the hill he allowed only two runs against Cleveland on Tuesday, but did not factor in the decision. Beckett tossed six innings and struck out seven batters, while walking none.

Home has been where the heart is for the hard-throwing right-hander, who is 4-1 on the season with an impressive 1.99 ERA in 10 starts at Fenway Park.

On Saturday, Jacoby Ellsbury hit a three-run homer and drove in a career-high six runs, as the Red Sox halted the streaking Yankees in a 10-4 victory.

Boston dropped the opener of this three-game series on Friday, 3-2. But the Red Sox got plenty of offensive production Saturday to snap the Yankees' eight-game winning streak and beat their bitter rivals for the ninth time in 11 games this season.

Carl Crawford went 4-for-4 and scored three times for Boston, which also pulled into a tie with the Yankees for the AL East lead heading into Sunday's series finale.

John Lackey (10-8) gave the Red Sox six effective innings, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks, while New York starter CC Sabathia (16-6) struggled.

The left-hander allowed a season-high seven runs -- including five in the fourth inning -- on nine hits and a walk. Mark Teixeira clubbed his 32nd home run of the season and Francisco Cervelli compiled three hits.