Red Sox 7, Yankees 6 (10 Innings): Yankees Tied For AL East Lead

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Eric Patterson singled in Bill Hall in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Boston Red Sox to a 7-6 win over the New York Yankees in the second game of a doubleheader at Fenway Park.

The Yankees had edged the Red Sox in 10 innings, 6-5, in the opener. However, the split in the doubleheader combined with Tampa Bay's win over Kansas City on Saturday leaves the Yankees and Rays tied atop the AL East with 95-66 records.

In order for New York to win the division, it needs to win Sunday and the Rays to lose, because Tampa Bay won the season series. In any other scenario, the Rays will win the AL East and New York will take the wild card spot.

"We didn't play a crisp game," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We made some mistakes today. We made some errors...It's a long day. I'm not going to hang my head over it, it's a long day."

New York held a 6-4 lead after seven innings, but Boston rallied to tie the game in the eighth. Pinch-hitter Jed Lowrie worked a leadoff walk off Royce Ring and Ryan Kalish followed with a single. Ivan Nova (1-2) then took over pitching duties for the Yankees, but surrendered a run-scoring single to Daniel Nava.

After Nova retired the next batter, he walked pinch-hitter David Ortiz and Kevin Cash to force in a run. However, Nova retired the next two batters to get out of the inning.

Robert Manuel (1-0) worked around a one-out double by Francisco Cervelli to pitch a scoreless ninth, and Nova worked a scoreless bottom half. The Yankees had runners on the corners with two away in the 10th, but Manuel got pinch- hitter Jorge Posada to pop out to short.

Nova remained on the mound in the bottom half and faced Hall, who entered as a pinch-runner for Ortiz in the eighth. Hall had committed a critical error in the 10th inning of the doubleheader's opener, which led to the go-ahead run.

However, he redeemed himself for that by leading off the inning with a double. Hall moved to third on a sacrifice bunt before Patterson slapped a single up the middle, ending the game.

"We were here a long time today, nice to have a win," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "I don't care if it's September, October or April. You spend that much time at the ballpark, it's nice to have a win."

The teams traded runs in the early innings, as neither starter was particularly sharp. Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits and five walks in five innings, while striking out six.

Meanwhile, the Yankees' A.J. Burnett gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks in six innings, with five strikeouts. While not dominant, the outing was still an improvement from his last two starts, in which he allowed a combined eight runs in 5 1/3 innings.

The Yankees got on the board in the first inning, when Matsuzaka hit Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano to load the bases with two away. He then walked Lance Berkman to force in a run.

Boston evened the game with an RBI single from Lars Anderson in the home half, but New York went back in front in the second. With runners on second and third and nobody out, Brett Gardner hit a run-scoring groundout before Curtis Granderson lofted a sacrifice fly to make it a 3-1 game.

Cervelli's sac fly in the third pushed the Yankees' lead to three, but Boston got the run back in the bottom half when Felipe Lopez led off with a homer.

Nava led off the fourth with a double and scored during the next at-bat. Berkman's fielding error allowed Josh Reddick to reach base, and Burnett's throwing error allowed Nava to cross the plate. Yamaico Navarro hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth to get Boston even at 4-4.

In the seventh, Cervelli hit an RBI single and Berkman scored on a wild pitch by Hideki Okajima to give the Yankees a two-run edge.

Manuel picked up his first major league win in his 13th appearance...Lopez's homer was his first with the Red Sox. He went 3-for-5 overall...Cano had three hits for New York.

Cano Homers, Hughes Picks Up Win In Relief

Boston, MA (Sports Network) – Derek Jeter’s infield single in the top of the 10th brought in the deciding run, as the New York Yankees moved to a game up in the AL East with a 6-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a doubleheader from Fenway Park.

Tampa Bay, which plays at Kansas City, can close the gap back to within a half-game with a victory, but New York’s result in the back end of the twinbill — which is expected to pit New York’s A.J. Burnett against Daisuke Matsuzaka for Boston — can change that margin.

Robinson Cano finished 3-for-5 with a homer, two doubles and drove in two runs for the Yankees, who picked up RBI from Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez.

Phil Hughes (18-8) got the win with a scoreless inning of relief. Mariano Rivera picked up his 33rd save by holding off the Sox in their last at-bat.

Mike Lowell was 2-for-2 with a two-run double and scored once, while Daniel Nava drove in a run. Jed Lowrie and Bill Hall collected two hits each for the Red Sox, who slid to their fourth straight defeat.

Jonathan Papelbon (5-7) took the loss after being charged with the winning run over his one frame on the hill.

Yankees At Red Sox: Key Doubleheader Today

Game Two: New York - A.J. Burnett (10-15, 5.33) Boston - Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-6, 4.72)

(Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox will try to play spoiler today when they open their final series of the season with a doubleheader against the American League East-leading New York Yankees at Fenway Park.

This series was supposed to get underway on Friday, but heavy rain forced a delay of approximately 3 1/2 hours before the contest was postponed, making today's double-dip necessary.

"We did everything we could to play this game, and the Red Sox were great about it," Yankee manager Joe Girardi said. "It wouldn't have been our preference, but there's nothing we can do. You can't argue with Mother Nature."

New York, which clinched a spot in the postseason earlier in the week, moved a half game ahead of Tampa Bay in the division standings on Friday when the Rays lost to Kansas City.

The Yankees, though, must finish a game ahead of the Rays if they want to win the AL East outright since Tampa Bay, which has also clinched a playoff berth, won the season series, 10-8.

In the first game this afternoon New York turns to left-hander Andy Pettitte, who will be making his third start since returning from a two-month stint on the disabled list with a groin injury. Pettitte has been battling a sore back as well and was roughed up in his last start on Friday against the Red Sox, who battered him for seven runs (six earned) and 10 hits in just 3 1/3 innings.

"I wasn't able to really establish anything," said Pettitte, who is 11-3 with a 3.17 ERA on the year. My command wasn't that horrible as far as walking guys, but the command of my fastball wasn't that good when it was in the strike zone. I couldn't get anything going. I feel like I couldn't get into any rhythm."

Pettitte is 18-10 lifetime against the Red Sox with a 3.86 ERA in 38 games, 36 of which have been starts.

A.J. Burnett makes his final case to pitch in a meaningful postseason game for the Yankees in the nightcap. Burnett has been downright awful this season, going 10-15 with a 5.33 earned run average. He could not get out of the third inning on Monday in Toronto, as he was hit for seven runs and seven hits in just 2 1/3 frames.