The Red Sox continued their downward spiral in the month of September, losing to the Yankees 9-1 and bringing their record for the month to 5-17. The Red Sox once comfortable lead in the Wild Card is now a struggle to stay ahead of the surging Rays and Angels, with the Rays a game and a half out of the Wild Card a and the Angels just 3 games back.
Jon Lester started for the Red Sox, going only 2 plus innings and allowing 8 runs, all earned, on 8 hits with 3 strikeouts. Lester is scheduled to pitch on three days rest. The Sox then used 4 relievers, Atchinson, Tazawa, Miller, and Bowden to finish the game, pitching almost 7 innings of 1 run ball.
Freddy Garcia started for the Yankees,vying for a spot in the playoff pitching rotation, throwing 6 strong innings and allowing no runs on six hits and three strikeouts.
Jesus Montero was the main offensive force for the Yankees, driving in 4 RBI’s on a single, double and a homerun. Derek Jeter also hit his 6th homer of the year, and Russel Martin also had an RBI single.
The Red Sox’s lone run came off of an RBI double by Carl Crawford.
The Red Sox look to stay ahead tomorrow as Tim Wakefield (7-7, 5.08) goes up against A.J. Burnett (10-11, 5.28) in the first game at 1:05 P.M., and John Lackey (12-12, 6.49) goes up against Ivan Nova (16-4, 3.62) at 6:30 P.M.
