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Yankees trying to salvage something

Aug 28, 2008 - 10:08 AM BOSTON (77-55) at NY YANKEES (70-62), 1:05pm EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- With their best chance to finally make up some ground in the wild-card race, the New York Yankees have been at their worst.

On Thursday, the Yankees will try to salvage one game of their set with the Boston Red Sox in what may be their fiercest rival's last appearance at Yankee Stadium.

The first two games haven't gone as planned for the Yankees, who entered the series five games behind the Red Sox in the wild-card standings with hopes of making a serious dent in that deficit. But the club's erratic pitching rotation - which has been hampered by injury and disappointment all year - hasn't been able to put a lid on the potent Red Sox offense.

In Wednesday night's showdown, Boston scored seven runs in the eighth, turning a close game into a blowout. Dustin Pedroia had three hits and four RBI - courtesy of an eighth-inning grand slam - and Jason Bay drove in four runs to lead the charge in an 11-3 victory.

For the second straight game, New York's starting pitcher lasted 4 2/3 innings. This time, it was Sidney Ponson. The night before, it was veteran lefthander Andy Pettitte, who took a 7-3 loss after giving up 10 hits and six runs on Tuesday.

The team's 2008 ace, 39-year-old Mike Mussina (16-7, 3.45 ERA) will be called on to stop the bleeding, as he faces off against Boston southpaw Jon Lester (12-5, 3.49).

Both starters are coming off subpar outings. Lester had his worst start of the year in an August 22 loss to Toronto, getting pulled after 2 1/3 innings, during which he tied a career-worst with seven earned runs allowed.

Mussina didn't fare perform quite as poorly, but gave up nine hits and four runs in six innings against the Baltimore Orioles and did not factor in the decision. The Yankees went on to win the game, 9-4.

It was vintage Mussina the last time he faced the Red Sox on July 5 at Yankees Stadium The righthander threw six shutout innings against Boston rookie Justin Masterson, giving up four hits while striking out five and walking one in a 2-1 win.