BOSTON (AP)—The Boston Red Sox don’t understand why they’ve been able to
dominate CC Sabathia(notes).
They just want it to continue.
Jacoby Ellsbury(notes) had a three-run homer with a career-high six RBIs, and Carl
Crawford(notes) had four hits to lead Boston to a 10-4 victory over the Yankees ace on
Saturday, snapping New York’s eight-game winning streak and leaving the teams
tied for first—again—in the AL East.
“To get wins against guys like that, you try not to think about it too
much,” said Crawford, who has hit safely in six consecutive plate appearances.
“You try to just take it.”
One day after losing the series opener to fall into second place for the
first time in almost a month, the Red Sox improved to 69-43—the same as the
Yankees. Boston is 9-2 against New York this season, clinching at least a tie
for the season series, and nowhere has the dominance been more complete than
when Sabathia (16-6) pitches.
The big left-hander, who leads the majors in wins, fell to 0-4 with a 7.20
ERA against Boston this year. He is 16-2 with a 2.11 ERA against everyone else.
“Believe me, it’s not like we go, `We’re going to lunch up on him,”’ Red
Sox manager Terry Francona said. “He’s really good. He’s had his way with a lot
of teams, and we give him a good battle. I’m sure we’ll see him a bunch more
times.”
Sabathia allowed seven runs in six innings Saturday, giving up nine hits and
a walk and striking out six. It’s the first time in 11 starts that he didn’t
last at least seven innings.
“It’s a good ballclub. They have a good lineup. Like today, they wear on
you,” Sabathia said. “I’ve faced all of those guys a lot. When I’m right, I
can beat anybody.”
John Lackey(notes) (10-8) scattered six hits over six innings for the Red Sox,
allowing three runs—he also walked two and hit two batters—while striking
out five to win his fifth consecutive decision.
It was 2-2 when Kevin Youkilis(notes) doubled to lead off the fourth and, after
David Ortiz(notes) struck out, Mike Aviles(notes) singled home one run. Crawford singled and,
one out later, Marco Scutaro(notes) singled in another run before Ellsbury hit a high
fly that landed in the first row of the right-field seats next to the 380-foot
marker.
The Yankees cut it to 7-4 on Mark Teixeira’s(notes) solo homer off Daniel Bard(notes) in
the eighth.
But Boston loaded the bases against Hector Noesi(notes) in the bottom half before
Ellsbury hit a two-run single and Dustin Pedroia(notes) added a sacrifice fly to make
it 10-4. Noesi finally got out of the inning when he took Adrian Gonzalez’s(notes) line
drive off his right shoulder; the ball ricocheted toward first base, and
Teixeira picked it up and tagged the base for the out.
Francisco Cervelli(notes) had three hits for the Yankees, including a leadoff
double against Dan Wheeler(notes) in the ninth. With two on, Teixeira lined the ball
down the right-field line, just foul of the Pesky Pole.
He flied out to center to end the game.
Play was delayed briefly when a beer vendor’s tray fell over the wall near
the Yankees dugout, scattering cans on the dirt. The spill was featured on the
national television broadcast, and a FOX TV producer told Red Sox officials the
network would pay for the load so the vendor wouldn’t be out the money; Red Sox
spokeswoman Pam Ganley said the vendor would not have to pay for the spilled
beer.
Francona got a chuckle out of it.
“I’m just glad Bogie (third base coach Tim Bogar) didn’t grab one and start
drinking it,” he said.
Notes: Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez(notes) took batting practice in Florida,
continuing his recovery from right knee surgery. The Yankees expect him to
rejoin the team in mid-August. … Aviles, who came to the Red Sox from Kansas
City at the trade deadline, made his first pro appearance in the outfield. …
Curtis Granderson(notes) scored his major league-leading 100th run in the fourth. …
For the series finale on Sunday, Freddy Garcia(notes) will face Josh Beckett(notes). Garcia
has won three straight starts, but on the year he is 0-2 with a 10.13 ERA in two
starts against Boston. “They’ve hit him pretty good,” manager Joe Girardi
said. “Freddy’s been pretty consistent. Those are his starts that weren’t.”
Beckett is 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA against the Yankees this year.