The New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox for the second straight game after losing the first eight. However, this game was not as convincing as the pounding they put on John Smoltz in Thursday's 13-6 win. The Yankees ended this game in the 15th inning, off of a two-run home run that gave the Yankees a 2-0 win. Josh Beckett started for the Red Sox and he was great, just like Yankees starter A.J. Burnett. Burnett and Beckett were teammates with the Florida Marlins 2003 team that won the World Series against the Yankees.
This is a huge win for the Yankees because they get at least a series split and they make the series a little bit better for themselves by being able to win a game in which Beckett pitched. The Red Sox continue to slip in the standings, now falling four and a half behind the Yankees in the AL East division race. The Red Sox need to pull it together soon or they probably won't be in the playoffs altogether. Right now, they're the front runners for the wild card race but the Texas Rangers are close behind.
In the 2006 season, the Yankees played a five game series against the Red Sox in August of that season and ended up winning all five games. That put the Yankees far ahead of the Red Sox in the division race, and the Red Sox never recovered. The Red Sox missed the playoffs altogether that season, and they fell behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the division as well, finishing third in the division. The Red Sox are in danger of this happening again, which they cannot afford at this time. They play the Yankees in Fenway Park in two weeks but by that time, it might be too late if they get swept by the Yankees.
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