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Wang, Yankees aim for sweep against rival Red Sox

Aug 30, 2007 - 1:34 PM Boston (80-53) at NY Yankees (74-59) 1:05 pm EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) - Chien-Ming Wang and the New York Yankees aim to inch closer to a playoff berth in the American League.

Wang will take the mound as the Yankees look for a sweep of the rival Boston Red Sox in the finale of a three-game set at Yankee Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

On Wednesday night, Roger Clemens tossed six solid innings and Alex Rodriguez blasted an important home run for New York, which posted an exciting 4-3 victory over Boston in the middle game of the series.

With the win, the Yankees climbed within six games of the first-place Red Sox in the AL East Division. They also pulled even with the Seattle Mariners (73-58) atop the wild card standings.

New York hopes to continue its ascent behind Wang (15-6, 3.95 ERA), who is 4-4 with a 4.78 ERA in 10 games - nine starts - against Boston in his career. This season, the righthander is 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three outings against the Red Sox.

Wang came up big in his last start, allowing just two runs - one earned - and five hits in eight innings in a crucial 7-2 win last Saturday against the Detroit Tigers, who are right behind the Yankees in the wild card race.

Boston will counter with Curt Schilling (8-5, 4.11), who is most remembered for his gutsy Game Six victory at New York in the 2004 AL Championship Series en route to the Red Sox's first World Series victory in 86 years.

But the righthander has struggled in three starts against the Yankees this season, posting an 0-1 mark with a 7.00 ERA in three starts.

Looking to salvage the final game of the set, Boston again will play without slugger Manny Ramirez, who has back spasms.