* Updated: September 27, 2009 …  

 

The New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox is the greatest “rivalry” in the history of baseball and all sports.

Every game that is played by these two great teams each year takes on a very unique meaning with a playoff atmosphere, and really becomes its own very special “season within a season” in the overall American League schedule each year.  

This is the reason I coined the phrase “A Season Within A Season” for this great rivalry last year, and look to continue this special reflection on the Yankees vs. Red Sox games in 2009 and future seasons.

So, as a way of getting ready for the beginning of the games between both teams in 2009, the following is a listing of their scheduled games this upcoming year. I will offer my thoughts with updates, scores and highlights of each game throughout the year, and most importantly, look forward to all the comments, thoughts, and opinions of viewers of my mlblog.

My hope is, this ongoing season-long “post” will become a site where mlbloggers will visit throughout this season with their thoughts on each game, and any other comments or stories related to the great New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox rivalry.

Please let me know what think; and, also, feel free to offer any suggestions that you may have. Of course, I welcome all Yankee and Red Sox fans, as well as, all baseball fans, to visit any time to become a part of this great rivalry and tradition which is the most unique in baseball and all sports !!!

 

* Updated: Monday, August 24, 2009 … Check-out “post” below, and please offer any comments, thoughts, or observations that you may want to include in this “season-long” tribute in honor the great New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox rivalry …

Thank you, everybody, for all your visits !!!  

 

“A Season Within A Season”, 2009 …

* Game # 1  —  April 24, 2009  – Red Sox  5,  Yankees  4, (11) – Fenway Park

* Game # 2  —  April 25, 2009  – Red Sox 16, Yankees 11        (Fenway Park)

* Game # 3  —  April 26, 2009  – Red Sox  4, Yankees  1         (Fenway Park)

 

* Game # 4  —  May  4, 2009   –  Red Sox 6, Yankees 4    (Yankee Stadium)

* Game # 5  —  May  5, 2009   –  Red Sox 7, Yankees 3     (Yankee Stadium)

 

* Game # 6  —  June  9, 2009   – Red Sox 7, Yankees 0      (Fenway Park)

* Game # 7  —  June 10, 2009  – Red Sox 6, Yankees 5      (Fenway Park)

* Game # 8  —  June 11, 2009  – Red Sox 4, Yankees 3      (Fenway Park) 

 

* Game # 9   –  August 6, 2009  – Yankees 13, Red Sox 6      (Yankee Stadium)

* Game #10  –  August 7, 2009  – Yankees  2, Red Sox 0, (15) – Yankee Stadium

* Game #11  –  August 8, 2009  – Yankees  5, Red Sox 0       (Yankee Stadium)

* Game #12  –  August 9, 2009  – Yankees  5, Red Sox 2       (Yankee Stadium)

 

* Game #13  –  August 21, 2009  – Yankees 20, Red Sox 11     (Fenway Park)

* Game #14  –  August 22, 2009  –  Red Sox 14, Yankees  1     (Fenway Park)

* Game #15  –  August 23, 2009  –  Yankees  8, Red Sox 4       (Fenway Park)

 

* Game #16  –  September 25, 2009 – Yankees 9, Red Sox 5    (Yankee Stadium)

* Game #17  –  September 26, 2009 – Yankees 3, Red Sox 0    (Yankee Stadium)

* Game #18  –  September 27, 2009 – Yankees 4, Red Sox 2    (Yankee Stadium)

 

The 2009 Baseball Season is almost here …

But, let the discussion begin “now” about baseball’s greatest rivalry …

“New York Yankees” vs. “Boston Red Sox”

 

Everybody, have a great day !!!

 

— Jimmy Curran, “Baseball, The Yankees, and Life”

 

****************************************************************    

 

* Game 1  —  April 24, 2009  —  Red Sox 5, Yankees 4  (11 innings)

With the Yankees leading 4-2 in the bottom of the 9th inning, with two outs, a runner on second base, Jason Bay the batter for the Red Sox, and Mariano Rivera on the mound — Mariano blew this save by serving up a long, hard hit, two-run homerun, to Bay, to straight away centerfield, that tied the score 4-4.

The game remained tied going into the bottom of the 11th inning with Damaso Marte pitching for the Yankees. After striking-out the first batter, David Ortiz, the next hitter, Kevin Youkilis blasted a long walk-off homerun over the “Green Monster” to give the Red Sox a very dramatic 5-4 victory.  

The Yankees had many opportunities to score more runs in this game, including, in the top of the 9th inning, when the Yanks loaded the bases with no outs, but Robinson Cano hit into a 4-2-3 double play, and Melky Cabrera poped out to the catcher to end the rally and inning with the Yanks still leading 4-2 at the time.  

For the Boston Red Sox, this was a very well deserved comeback victory.

For the New York Yankees, this was, to say the least, a very disappointing loss.  

* To view boxscore, click on …  Game 1 — Red Sox 5, Yankees 4

*************************    

* Game 2  —  April 25, 2009  — Red Sox 16, Yankees 11

— To view boxscore, click on … Game 2 — Red Sox 16, Yankees 11

 

* Game 3 — April 26, 2009 — Red Sox 4, Yankees 1

— To view boxscore, click on … Game 3 

 

* Game 4 — May 4, 2009 — Red Sox 6, Yankees 4

— To view boxscore, click on … Game 4  

 

* Game 5 — May 5, 2009 — Red Sox 7, Yankees 3

— To view boxscore, click on … Game 5

 

The “Season Within A Season” 2009, continues with a three-game series at Fenway Park, starting on Tuesday June 9th.

As of June 9, 2009, the Yankees are in “First Place” in the AL East.

The AL East standings are as follows …  

 

New York Yankees    34-23    .596       —

Boston Red Sox         33-24    .579      1.0

Toronto Blue Jays     33-27    .550      2.5

Tampa Bay Rays       29-30    .492      6.0

Baltimore Orioles      24-33    .421    10.0 

 

“Go Yankees” !!!

 

* Game 6 — Tuesday, June 9, 2009 — Red Sox 7, Yankees 0

— Josh Beckett (7-2) was brilliant in his start for the Red Sox, in total control throughout his six innings on the mound, allowing zero runs, on only one hit and two waks, while striking out eight batters. The Boston bullpen closed out the Sox shutout victory.

— For the Yankees, their starter, A.J. Burnett (4-3) was “awful” !!! … A.J. allowed five runs (three earned), on five hits, five walks, and one strikeout in only 2.2 innings. A two-run homer by David Ortiz in Boston’s four run second inning was the turning point of the game, as the Red Sox easily coasted to their sixth straight win vs. the Yankees this year.

— To view boxscore, click on … Game 6 

 

* Game 7 — Wednesday, June 10, 2009 — Red Sox 6, Yankees 5

— Chien-Ming Wang started for the Yankees, and was totally ineffective, allowing four runs, on six hits, [including a homerun], and three walks, in 2.2 innings pitched. Phil Hughes replaced Wang, and was also not effective, giving up two runs, on two hits, including a home run, two walks, and five strikeouts in 3.2 innings out of the bullpen.

— The Yankees had three homeruns in the game … Posada in the 2nd inning; and back-to-back homers by Damon and Teixeira in the top of the 7th; and, Tex was 4-for-5 including two doubles with his homer; but, this power was not enough for the Bronx Bombers, as the Red Sox held on for a solid 6-5 win. Mike Lowell and Kevin Youkilis homered for the Sox; and, Tim Wakefield (8-3) pitched six strong innings for the victory. This was Boston’s seventh straight win against the New York Yankees this year.

— To view the boxscore, click on … Game 7 

** The win in Game 7 moved the Red Sox back into first place in the AL East, one game ahead of the Yankees, as of the morning of Thursday June 11, 2009.

** The final game of this three-game series at Fenway Park continues tonight, June 11th, with CC Sabathia (5-3, 3.56) on the mound for the Yankees vs. the Red Sox starter, Brad Penny (5-2, 5.85).

Enjoy the game, everybody !!!

 

* Game 8 — Thursday, June 11, 2009 — Red Sox 4, Yankees 3

— A VERY CRUSHING LOSS BY THE NEW YORK YANKEES !!! … [Enough said]

— The Yankees are now “0-8” against the Red Sox this year !!!

— To view boxscore, click on … Game 8  

 

— Click on: Yanks 0-8 vs. Red Sox, Trying To Make Sense Of It All  

 

______________________________________

 

Updated:  Thursday, July 9, 2009 …

The Yankees just completed a three-game sweep of the Twins in Minnesota with a 6-4 win in the final game of the series.

The Red Sox lost their game on this day, 8-6, to the K.C. Royals at Fenway Park.

This tied the Yankees and Red Sox for first place in the AL East !!!

 

AL EAST STANDINGS (at the end of baseball action on July 9, 2009) …

New York Yankees      51-34    .600       —

Boston Red Sox           51-34    .600       —

Tampa Bay Rays         47-39    .547      4.5

Toronto Blue Jays       43-44    .494      9.0

Baltimore Orioles        38-47    .447     13.0

 

At this point in the season, the Yankees headed to the West Coast to play a three-game weekend series against the L.A. Angels, July 10-11-12th. 

The Red Sox were scheduled to play the second game of a four-game weekend series vs. the K.C. Royals, July 9-10-11-12th.  

These two series would end the first half of the season for the Yanks and Red Sox; and, baseball’s annual All-Star break would take place during the upcoming week, with the All-Star Game scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, 2009 in St. Louis.

 

— Jimmy, “BY&L”

 

______________________________________ 

 

Updated: Friday, August 7, 2009 …

 

AL EAST STANDINGS – (at the start of baseball action, August 6, 2009)

New York Yankees    65-42       —      .607

Boston Red Sox          62-44     2.5     .585

Tampa Bay Rays        60-48     5.5     .556 

Toronto Blue Jays      51-56    14.0    .477

Baltimore                   45-62    20.0    .421

 

BRONX, NEW YORK — August 6, 2009 — The center of the baseball world now shifts to the “Beautiful Bronx”, New York, for the start of a huge four-game weekend series between the first place New York Yankees and second place Boston Red Sox. 

The Yankees are returning home from their just completed road trip that concluded with a two-game sweep of the Blue Jays 8-4 and 5-3, in Toronto.

The Red Sox travel into the Bronx from Florida, after being swept by the third place Tampa Bay Rays, 6-4 and 4-2 (13 innings), that dropped the Sox two and a half games behind the Yankees. The Rays remain five and a half games behind the Yanks.  

So, let the “Season Within A Season” continue … Baseball’s greatest rivalry: the New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox … as the Yankees look to get their first victory over the Red Sox this year after Boston has an 8-0 record up to this point of the 2009 season. 

 

* Game 9 — Thursday, August 6, 2009 — Yankees 13, Red Sox 6

Well, one thing both Yankee and Red Sox fans can agree on about this contest, is: the pitching was awful by all pitchers who took the mound in this very important “must-win” game for the Yankees. 

Boston starter, future Hall of Famer, John Smoltz, was hit very hard, lasting only 3.1 innings, while allowing eight runs; on nine hits, including two homeruns; four walks; and, three strikeouts. With this loss, Smoltz’s record is now 2-5 with a 8.32 ERA. 

The Red Sox did stake Smoltz to a 3-1 lead as the game entered the bottom of the third, on an opposite field homer by Dustin Pedroia in the top of the second inning; and, after, Johnny Damon tied the score 1-1 with a homer in the bottom of the second, Boston newcomer, Casey Kotchman blasted a two-run homerun in the top of the third that increased the Sox lead to 3-1 at the time. 

Then, the Bronx Bombers exploded in the bottom of the third inning, sending 13 batters up to the plate, in a 35-minute, eight hit, two walk, attack, that was highlighted by a three-run homer by Melky Cabrera that gave the Yanks a 5-3 lead; and, a three-run homer by Jorge Posada that capped the scoring during the Bombers eight-run spectacular display of power, putting this game out of reach for the Bosox, 9-3. [Robinson Cano and Hideki Matsui also had an RBI apiece in the middle of this rally].   

In the meantime, Yankees starter, Joba Chamberlain, also did not pitch a good game, and was maybe one hit or walk away from being removed from the game before the fifth inning was completed. 

With a 9-3 lead, Joba walked the bases loaded with one out in the top of the fifth before allowing a RBI single to Mike Lowell that cut the lead to 9-4. It was clear, Manager Joe Girardi was struggling with thoughts of taking Chamberlain out of this game at this point, thus eliminating Joba’s chance of getting the win if the Yanks held onto the lead.

But, Girardi showed confidence in his young starter, and Joba, to his credit, delivered the goods, striking out the next two batters, Kotchman and Green, to end the Boston rally and keep the score at 9-4 in favor of the Bombers.  

In the bottom of the fifth, the Yankees increased their lead to 11-4 on a two RBI double by Hideki Matsui, but Joba Chamberlain’s night was finished.

Maybe, because Joba had an extra two days off [seven days rest instead of five days] since his last start, [and, this could become a major concern as the season continues and the Yankees braintrust stays firm with their plan to limit Joba’s pitches and innings], this affected his performance on the mound tonight as he just did not have full command and control of his pitches. Joba was wild in each of the five innings he threw in this game. 

Overall, Joba’s performance was the exact opposite of his fine 3-0 record since this year’s All-Star break. In five innings of work, Chamberlain threw 108 pitches, and allowed four runs; on six hits, including two homers; “seven” walks; and, five strikeouts.

Even though Joba struggled in this game, he stranded two Boston runners in each of the first and second innings without allowing a run to score; got out of the third with an inning-ending double play after giving up the Pedroia homerun; and, left the bases loaded in the fifth, ending the inning with two big strikeouts, to hold the score at 9-4 before his departure. 

It was not one of Joba Chamberlain’s best efforts, by far. But, all great pitches have to battle at times when they do not have their best stuff. And to his credit, in my view, Joba Chamberlain (8-2) battled on the mound tonight, and at least earned the win by lasting five innings without any further damage against a great team. Of course, the Yankees hitting was the main reason the Bombers won this game.   

The Yankees scored their final two runs on a RBI single by Derek Jeter in the sixth inning; and, Mark Teixeira’s 28th homerun in the bottom of the seventh, that increased the Bombers lead to 13-4.  

Boston scored two runs in the top of the ninth, on two hits and two walks, off rookie reliever Anthony Claggett who was just recalled from (AAA) – Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, completing the scoring in the Yankees 13-6 victory.

Yankee batters pounded out 18 hits, including three hits each by: Damon, Teixeira, and Posada. For the Red Sox, Pedroia had three of Boston’s eight total hits.  

And, Yankee pitchers walked 12 batters, and Red Sox pitchers walked six batters, for a total of 18 base-on-balls allowed in this three-hour, fifty-two minute game before a sold-out crowd of 49,005 at the new Yankee Stadium.

Before the game, the Yankees honored Muhammad Ali … but, it was very sad that Yankees owner, George M. Steinbrenner, III was not able to attend this game and four-game series as he had planned on doing. 

The “Boss” visited the Yankees team during their just completed two-game series against the Rays in Tampa Bay which greatly energized and inspired the Yankees players and coaching staff. But, because of health reasons, Mr. Steinbrenner cannot make the trip to the Bronx, and will follow this “key” series from his home in Tampa Bay, Florida.

We all wish George Steinbrenner well, and hope he will be healthy enough to attend post-season games this year, if “his” New York Yankees continue to play as well as they are playing now, and go onto the playoffs and World Series in route to their 27th World Championship.

At this point in the season, 1-8 vs. the Red Sox looks a lot better than 0-8 or 0-9 for the Yankees.  

But, what looks even better, is the Yankees 66-42 record in first place, at the top of the AL East, three and a half games ahead of the second place Red Sox who now have a record of 62-45.

To view boxscore, click on: Game 9 — Yankees 13, Red Sox 6 

 

AL EAST STANDINGS — Morning of Friday, August 7, 2009 …

Yankees     66-42     .611       —

Red Sox     62-45     .579      3.5 

Rays           60-48     .556      6.0

Blue Jays    51-56    .477     14.5

Orioles        45-63    .417     21.0

 

 

— Jimmy 27NYY Curran, “BY&L” – “Baseball, The Yankees, and Life”

 

_____________________________________________________________

 

* Game 10 — Friday, August, 7, 2009  —  Yankees 2, Red Sox 0   (15 innings)

 

“A Classic Game For The Ages” …

 

Click on my post: “A Classic For The Ages In The Bronx”  for my account of this great game. 

 

Boxscore, click on: Yankees 2, Red Sox 0 (15 innings) — “An All-Time Classic”   

 

 

— Jimmy, “BY&L”

 

_________________________________________________________

 

* Game 11 — Saturday, August 8, 2009 — Yankees 5, Red Sox 0

 

Yankees starter CC Sabathia pitched an outstanding game, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning which was broken-up on a two-out single by Jacoby Ellsbury.

Mark Teixeira stroked a RBI single in the bottom of the third, that plated Melky Cabrera, who led off the inning with a single, giving the Yanks an early 1-0 lead.

The Bombers then scored a run in the sixth on a sac-fly by Jose Molina; and, a run in the seventh on a bases loaded walk to Nick Swisher that increased the lead to 3-0.

Boston starting pitcher Clay Buchholtz (L,1-2), pitched a very good game, tossing 105 pitches over six innings of work, allowing two runs, on six hits, five walks, and three strikeouts. 

Buchholtz was replaced by Ramirez who gave up the Yankees run in the seventh.

In the meantime, CC Sabathia was working on a two-hit shutout through seven and two-thirds innings, when Joe Girardi replaced CC with Phil Hughes who retired the final batter in the eight that held the score at 3-0.  

Sabathia had thrown 123 pitches up to this point in the game, and if I was manager, I would have let CC stay in the game to pursue the complete game shutout. But, oh, those annoying “pitch-counts” and “innings-limitations”.

CC Sabathia (W,12-7), ended up pitching seven and two-thirds innings, while allowing no runs, on two hits, two walks, and striking out nine. A truly great performance. 

The Yankees completed the scoring in this game on a two-run homer by Derek Jeter (#12), off Enrique Gonzalez in the bottom of the eight, that moved the Yanks into a 5-0 lead.  

David Robertson replaced Hughes and closed out this 5-0 Yankees victory with a scoreless ninth inning after allowing two hits. 

With the back-to-back shutouts, 2-0, (15 innings), and 5-0, the Yankees pitching staff has now held the Red Sox batters scoreless over the last 24 innings. 

The Yanks have now won the first three games in this very imortant four-game series, and go for the “sweep” in the final game on Sunday night, August 9th.     

 

To view boxscore, click on: Yankees 5, Red Sox 0

 

— Jimmy, “BY&L”

 

_________________________________________________________

 

Updated: Monday, August 10, 2009 …

 

* Game 12 — Sunday, August 9, 2009 — Yankees 5, Red Sox 2

 

With this 5-2 victory, the New York Yankees “swept” the four-game weekend series against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, in the Beautiful Bronx, New York !!!!

This game featured another pitcher’s duel as Andy Pettitte of the Yankees battled Jon Lester of the Red Sox, zero for zero, inning by inning, into the bottom of the seventh when Alex Rodriguez broke the deadlock by blasting a solo homerun (#21), that gave the Bronx Bombers a 1-0 lead. This was A-Rod’s second big homer of this series …

Of course, the first dramatic homer was a two-run shot into the Red Sox bullpen in leftfield, in the bottom of the 15th inning of the “classic” 0-0 pitcher’s duel in the second game of this series. Rodriguez’s two-out, walk-off, two-run homer, drove home Derek Jeter, who led off the inning with a single, ahead of A-Rod’s game-winning homer that gave the Yankees a 2-0 victory in one of the “greatest games ever played”, and certainly, one of the most “exciting gamers I have ever seen”.

Both managers decided to go to the bullpen after the seventh inning of the final game, dictated, once again, by the dreaded “pitch count” totals of “both” starting pitchers who were “brilliant” in this playoff-like game.

Jon Lester threw a strong 107 pitches over seven innings of work, allowing one run, on the A-Rod homer; five hits; no walks, while striking out seven.

Yankees starter, Andy Pettitte, was solid in his seven shutout innings on the mound, giving up five hits, two walks, and striking out four batters.

In a puzzling move, in my view, Yankees manager Joe Girardi replaced Pettitte with Phil Coke at the start of the eight inning. Why take Andy Pettitte out of this game when he is pitching so well? And, if Girardi was so intent on going to the bullpen, why didn’t he bring in Phil Hughes?

Now, after the game Girardi gave is reasons for this move, saying he did not want to use Hughes in three straight games. Phil Hughes pitched to only one batter in each of the last two games, so how tired or over-worked could he be?

But, the real question, in my opinion, is: Why was CC Sabathia removed with two outs in the eight inning, and replaced by Phil Hughes, while pitching a shutout over seven and two thirds innings in his brilliant start in the third game of this series? Certainly, CC should have been allowed to complete the eight inning, even though he had already thrown 123 pitches. Then, if Girardi still wanted to bring in David Robertson in the ninth inning, which “was” the move that he made in that game — it would have at least saved Hughes from taking the mound in Game Three, thus saving him for the final game in this series on Sunday night.  

But, as it turned out, it was already decided by Girardi before the game that Phil Hughes would not pitch in the final game. And, Alfredo Aceves was also not available because of back problems. So, Phil Coke got the call, when I think the obvious decision would have been to just let Andy Pettitte stay in the game for at least one more inning, the eight, and, then, go to Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning. 

Coke struck out the first batter, Jacoby Ellsbury. Then, Dustin Pedroia stroked a single, and newly acquired Victor Martinez blasted a long two-run homer that ended the Yankees 31 consecutive scoreless innings against the Sox in this series, and shocked the sold-out Yankee Stadium crowd as the the Red Sox took a 2-1 lead. 

After, Kevin Youkilis singled for the Sox third straight hit, Coke did prevent further damage by getting Jason Bay to ground into a 6-4-3 double play that ended the inning. This was the first game of the series that the injured Bay played, and that was good news for the Yankees as Jason Bay hit really well against the Yanks in previous games this year.

Red Sox 2, Yankees 1, as the game entered the bottom of the eight inning.

Boston manager Terry Francona made the call to the bullpen, replacing Jon Lester after 107 pitches thrown, with hard-throwing rookie reliever Daniel Bard.

Bard retired pinch-hitter Hideki Matsui and Derek Jeter for a quick two outs.

Johnny Damon was the next batter up, and “BAM” !!! Damon unloaded his 21st homer, a crushing shot over the wall in right-centerfield to tie this very exciting game 2-2.

The Yankee Stadium crowd was rocking like it was an October post-season big-game event; and, then, when Mark Teixeira lofted a high arching Ruthian blast into the beautiful night air of the new ballpark in the Bronx, that landed into the second deck of the short rightfield porch for a homerun that moved the Bombers into the 3-2 lead, it felt as if the Yankees had just won another World Series, as this August evening was transformed into another “classic game”, a percursor, maybe, to many more classic moments in this year’s “Fall Classic”.

The go-ahead homer by Tex was his league leading 29th of the season, and, also, the sixth time that both he and Damon hit back-to-back homers in a game this year, a new all-time Yankee record for back-to-back homeruns by the same two players in a Yankee lineup.

Just think about that for a moment …  

Of all the great Yankee players that hit back-to-back in the same lineup, including: Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig; Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig; Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra; Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris; Thurman Munson and Bobby Murcer; Chris Chambliss and Reggie Jackson; Don Mattingly and Dave Winfield; and, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez, to name a few combinations — it is now Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira who hold this very extraordinary Yankee record. A very fine performance and special record, indeed.   

After the game, Mark Teixeira said about his homer, this was the closest you can get to a walk-off, game-winning homer during the game. And, when Teixeira hit the ball, he held his bat up in the air when he was running to first base, as if to point the homerun ball into the seats.

But, it was still the eight inning, and the Yankees were not done yet with this late-inning rally.

A-Rod walked, and Francona replaced Daniel Bard (L,0-1) with Hideki Okajima.

Okajima promptly gave-up a double to Jorge Posada, and a two-RBI single to Nick Swisher that capped-off the scoring in the Bombers four-run outburst that increased their lead to 5-2.  

Mariano Rivera closed out this come-from-behind 5-2 victory by pitching a scoreless ninth inning, recording his 32th save.

Phil Coke (4-3) who blew the lead in this game, was credited with the win, but certainly, did nothing to earn this win. But, as I stated above, in my view, Coke should not have been brought into this game.

Bullpen management, and stretching out the innings of the starters by the Yankees braintrust will be “crucial” to the New York Yankees success the rest of the way on their journey to their 27th World Championship.

It’s time to eliminate “pitch-counts” and “innings limitations” on the Yankees pitching staff.

But, on this August weekend, the New York Yankees delivered an awesome performance sweeping four games over the second place Boston Red Sox that showed at this point in the season the Yankees are the best team in the AL East.  

 

To view boxscore, click on: Yankees Sweep Red Sox With 5-2 Win  

 

 

AMERICAN LEAGUE STANDINGS – (Monday, Morning, August, 10, 2009) …

 

AL EAST

New York Yankees     69-42     .622        —

Boston Red Sox          62-48     .564        6.5  (tied with Texas – wild card)

Tampa Bay Rays        61-50     .550        8.0

Toronto Blue Jays      53-57     .482      15.5

Baltimore Orioles       46-65     .414      23.0

 

AL WEST

L.A. Angels                 65-44     .596         —

Texas Rangers            62-48     .564        3.5  (tied with Boston – wild card)

Seattle Mariners         58-53     .523        8.0

Oakland A’s                49-62     .441      17.0

 

AL CENTRAL

Detroit Tigers                59-51     .536         —

Chicago White Sox       57-55     .509         3.0

Minnesota Twins          54-57     .486         5.5

Cleveland Indians        48-63      .432       11.5

Kansas City Royals       43-68     .387        16.5

 

Everybody, have a great day !!!

Thanks for all your visits and excellent comments and thoughts !!!

 

— Jimmy Curran, “BY&L” – “Baseball, The Yankees, and Life”

 

_________________________________________________________

 

Updated: Friday, August 21, 2009

 

The first place New York Yankees (76-45) continue their 10 game road trip with a big three-game series against the second place Boston Red Sox (69-51) at Fenway Park.  

So far the Bronx Bombers have a record of (5-2) on this trip after winning three of four games vs. the Seattle Mariners, and two of three games against the Oakland A’s.

 

Friday, August 21, 2009 …

* Game 13 — “A Season Within A Season” — Yankees 20, Red Sox 11

 

To view boxscore, click on: Yanks Out-Slug Red Sox, 20-11  

 

To read my “post” on my blog about this game, click on …

“Yankees Blast Red Sox in a 20-11 Rout” 

 

— Jimmy, “BY&L”

 

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Updated: Sunday, August 23, 2009 …

 

* Game 14  —  Saturday, August 22, 2009  —  Red Sox 14, Yankees 1

 

The New York Yankees pitching was terrible in this game, as the Boston Red Sox lit up Yankees starter A.J. Burnett (10-7), to the tune of nine runs; on nine hits, including three homers and three doubles, and two walks, during Burnett’s 97 pitch, five innings of work.

The Sox took an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a two RBI double by David Ortiz, and a RBI single by Jason Bay. Then, Boston put this game out of reach for the Yanks with a four run outburst in the second when Alex Gonzalez hit a solo homer (#1) to up the score to 4-0; and, after walks to Dustin Pedroia and Victor Martinez, a three-homer by Kevin Youkilis (#21) increased the Red Sox lead to 7-0.

In the fifth inning, Boston completed their bashing of A.J. Burnett on a two-out homer by Ortiz (#20), which was followed by back to back doubles by Bay and J.D. Drew that upped Boston’s lead to 9-0.

The Yankees bullpen was just as ineffective as the awful performance turned in by Burnett, as Alfredo Aceves allowed three runs in the sixth on a two-out double by Pedroia; a RBI single by Martinez; and, Kevin Youkilis’ second homer (#22) of the game, a two-run blast that further embarrassed the Yanks 12-0.

In the meantime, Boston starter Junichi Tazawa (2-2), pitched a very good game, throwing six strong shutout innings, allowing eight hits and two walks while striking out two. This was a great comeback effort for Tazawa, who in his last appearance against the Yankees, [his first time on the mound in the Major Leagues], he gave up the game winning, walk-off, two run homer to Alex Rodriguez in the bottom of the 15th inning of that classic pitcher’s duel, on August 7, 2009, at Yankee Stadium, which the Yankees won 2-0.

Nick Swisher broke up the Red Sox shutout with a solo homer (#21) off reliever Daniel Bard that made the score 12-1 at the time.

David Robertson replaced Aceves at the start of the eight inning, and once again, Boston scored more runs [after two outs]. Pedroia, Casey Kotchman, and Youkilis hit three straight doubles that completed the scoring in this 14-1 Red Sox victory. 

A major key to the Boston Red Sox win in this game was the fact that they scored 13 of their 14 runs after two outs in the individual innings that they scored.   

This was a very embarrassing loss for the New York Yankees in the middle game of this very important three-game series at Fenway Park, a game that was broadcast on FOX’s Saturday Baseball Game Of The Week.       

 

To view boxscore, click on: Red Sox 14, Yankees 1 

 

— Jimmy, “BY&L”

 

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Updated:  Monday,  August 24, 2009 …

 

* Game 15  —  Sunday, August 23, 2009  —  Yankees 8, Red Sox 4

 

Sabathia Out-Lasts Beckett for 15th win; Yanks Beat Sox, 8-4 …

The New York Yankees got right back on the winning track with a big 8-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox in the rubber game of their three-game showdown at Fenway Park on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball Game of the Week. 

With this victory, the first place Yankees (78-46) increased their lead to seven and a half games over the second place Red Sox (70-53) in the AL East. 

Also, after starting off this season 0-8 vs. the Red Sox, the Yankees have now narrowed the gap to 6-9 in the 2009 version of “A Season Within A Season”.

The Yankees have a chance to tie the season series 9-9, when they play the Red Sox three more games this season, September 25-26-27th at Yankee Stadium.

The story of this game was the five homers that the Yankees hit off Boston starter Josh Beckett (14-5), who threw 120 pitches over eight disappointing [for Red Sox fans] innings; while allowing eight runs; on nine hits; no walks; and five strikeouts.

Derek Jeter led off the game by hitting the first pitch over the right centerfield fence for his 16th home run of the year, and quick 1-0 Yankees lead. 

Hideki Matsui followed “The Captain’s” lead by also hitting a first pitch homer (#22), into the right field bleachers, in the top of the second inning, that increased the Bronx Bombers lead to 2-0.

After Boston tied the score 2-2 in the bottom of the second, the Yankees upped their lead to 4-2 on a Mark Teixeira RBI single, and RBI ground out by Alex Rodrigiuez in the top of the third.

Robinson Cano crushed his 19th homer of the year, in the fourth, [the Yanks third homer in this game], that kept the pressure on Beckett and the Sox as the Yanks moved ahead by 5-2 in the game.

Boston scored again in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the Yankees lead to 5-3.

Then, in the top of the fifth, with Damon on first base, and two outs, Alex Rodriguez stroked a solid line drive that just cleared the top of the Green Monster into the seats on top of the wall for his 22nd homer that increased the Bombers lead to 7-3.

The Red Sox cut the lead to 7-4 in the bottom of the sixth, before Hideki Matsui capped the scoring by hitting his second homer (#23) of the game, in the top of the eight, the Yanks fifth homer of the game off Josh Beckett, for the 8-4 lead.

CC Sabathia (15-7), pitched a solid game, not his best, but good enough to earn the victory. 

CC lasted 6.2 innings, tossing 118 pitches, while giving up four runs (three earned); on eight hits; no walks; and eight strikeouts. Also, this win elevates CC Sabathia into the American League Cy Young Award conversation. And, in my view, I would suggest that Mariano Rivera should also be included in the Cy Young Award discussion.

Phil Hughes replaced CC in this game and built a strong “Bridge to Mariano” holding the Yankees 8-4 lead as the game entered the bottom of the ninth inning.

It was not a save situation, but Mariano Rivera closed out this very important 8-4 Yankees victory over the Red Sox, by pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

The Yankees are now 27-9 since the All-Star break, winning 10 of the 11 series’ since the mid-summer All-Star Game, including six straight winning series.

The 2009 season now continues with the New York Yankees in first place in the AL East, seven and a half games over the second place Boston Red Sox.

And, the Yankees vs. Red Sox rivalry continues … 

At Yankee Stadium during the weekend of September 25-26-27, 2009.                          

 

To view boxscore, click on: Yankees 8, Red Sox 4

 

— Jimmy, “BY&L” 

 

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Game 16  —  Yankees 9, Red Sox 5  —  Boxscore: Game 16 

 

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Game 17  —  Yankees 3, Red Sox 0  —  Boxscore: Game 17 

 

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Game 18  —  Yankees 4, Red Sox 2  —  Boxscore: Game 18 

 

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