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Red Sox, Yankees renew rivalry

Apr 11, 2008 - 1:32 PM NY Yankees (5-5) at Boston (5-5) 7:05 pm EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) - Unspectacular starts and injuries won't take any of the intensity away from the most heated rivalry in baseball.

The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees begin another chapter of their storied rivalry when they open a three-game series on Friday.

The Yankees avoided a three-game sweep on Thursday and improved their record to .500 by claiming a 6-1 victory against the Kansas City Royals. Alex Rodriguez, Melky Cabrera and Jorge Posada all homered in Thursday's win, helping supply the offense in place of Derek Jeter.

New York's captain and starting shortstop, Jeter has been sidelined for the past three games with a strained left quad and his status for Friday's game is still uncertain.

Jeter is the latest Yankee to endure an injury as lefthander Andy Pettitte, who picked up his first win of the season on Thursday, has already spent time on the disabled list this season with back spasms. Also, Posada has been battling through a nagging shoulder injury.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox are also off to a 5-5 start but appear to be turning the corner after claiming a series victory with a 12-6 win against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday.

Before the game, Boston placed third baseman Mike Lowell on the 15-day DL with a sprained left thumb. The 2007 World Series MVP, Lowell, who played with a similar injury last season, injured the thumb for the second time in 12 months during Wednesday's 7-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

Clay Buchholz (0-1, 5.40 ERA) will face the Yankees for the first time in his career when he toes the rubber for the Red Sox on Friday.

Buchholz's first start this season wasn't as successful as he had hoped as he surrendered four runs and six hits while striking out seven in five innings en route to a 10-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.

The 23-year-old righthander is making his first start at Fenway Park since September 1, 2007 when he tossed a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles.

The Yankees will counter with righthander Chien-Ming Wang (2-0, 1.38), who carried a no hitter into the fifth inning en route to a 2-0 victory against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.