| SEASON | CAREER |
| W3 | 3 |
| L4 | 4 |
| G27 | 27 |
| IP78.2 | 78.0 |
| BB29 | 29 |
| SO79 | 79 |
| SEASON | CAREER |
| W3 | 75 |
| L9 | 77 |
| G14 | 252 |
| IP76.2 | 1389.0 |
| BB15 | 423 |
| SO16 | 574 |
While the New York Yankees are hoping to secure a playoff berth in the season's final three weeks, Boston is playing out the string.
That hasn't stopped the Red Sox from taking pleasure in frustrating their bitter rivals.
After losing the series opener to the division's last-place team, the Yankees try to avoid falling out of the top spot in the AL East for the first time in three months Wednesday night at Fenway Park.
Jacoby Ellsbury 's ninth-inning single - his fourth hit of the game - drove in the winning run in Boston's 4-3 victory on Tuesday, dropping New York (79-62) into a first-place tie with Baltimore, which defeated Tampa Bay. The Rays are two games back and visit the Bronx on Friday.
Another loss by the Yankees coupled with an Orioles victory would drop New York into second for the first time since June 10.
"We need to string together some wins," said Derek Jeter , whose two-run double in the sixth put the Yankees up 3-2. "You wouldn't be tied for first unless you found ways to win games throughout the course of 140-something games that we've played. So we've got to do it again."Although it has been an utterly forgettable year for Boston (64-78), which is 15 1/2 games out of first and headed to its first losing season since 1997, it has managed to give New York problems. Since July 28, the Reds Sox are 4-2 against the Yankees and 11-25 against everyone else.
"With the Yankees in town, they're battling for a (playoff) spot and at this point we can just go out and try to play spoiler," Boston left fielder Cody Ross said.Robinson Cano has been in the middle of the mess for New York in its last six games versus Boston, batting .043 with seven strikeouts.
Pedro Ciriaco , meanwhile, has been the catalyst for the Red Sox. He scored the winning run in the opener, and is batting .548 with seven RBIs and 11 runs in his last eight in the series.
Boston won Tuesday for just the second time in 13 games, but Dustin Pedroia can hardly be blamed for those struggles. He homered among his three hits in the opener, and is batting .421 with three home runs in his last 10 games.
Pedroia is 1 for 6 lifetime against starter David Phelps (3-4, 3.55 ERA), while Ciriaco is 3 for 4.
Phelps gave up five runs and six hits - including two homers - in four innings of Thursday's 10-6 loss to the Orioles, but didn't get the decision. The rookie right-hander has gone less than five innings in his last two starts, and is winless in his last four.
In his lone start against the Red Sox, Phelps allowed three runs and seven hits while striking out seven in 6 2-3 innings of a 4-1 loss Aug. 18.
After going 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position Tuesday, the Yankees now face Aaron Cook (3-9, 5.17), who has a 10.24 ERA in losing his two career starts versus New York. He gave up six runs over four innings in the Bronx on July 27.
The sinkerballer allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings against Seattle on Wednesday in a 2-1 loss. He struck out a season-high five after totaling 11 strikeouts in his first 13 starts, and fell to 1-8 since tossing a two-hit shutout over the Mariners on June 29.
@
@
AVG
HRRUNSSBSOBBOBPSLGOPSERAQSSOBBSVBSBAAWHIPE
VS.
| HITTERS | AB | AVG | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | OBP | OPS | SLG |
| Robinson Cano | 3 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Eric Chavez | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .000 |
| Brett Gardner | 3 | .333 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .666 | .333 |
| Curtis Granderson | 3 | .667 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .667 | 1.334 | .667 |
| Raul Ibanez | 11 | .455 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | .462 | 1.007 | .545 |
| Andruw Jones | 12 | .167 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .231 | .481 | .250 |
| Hiroki Kuroda | 3 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .250 | .250 | .000 |
| Russell Martin | 18 | .056 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | .143 | .199 | .056 |
| Eduardo Nunez | 3 | .333 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .666 | .333 |
| Alex Rodriguez | 2 | 1.000 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 2.500 | 1.500 |
| Chris Stewart | 1 | 1.000 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 5.000 | 4.000 |
| Nick Swisher | 8 | .375 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | .333 | 1.208 | .875 |
| Mark Teixeira | 8 | .250 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .833 | .500 |
VS.
| HITTERS | AB | AVG | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | OBP | OPS | SLG |
| Mike Aviles | 2 | .500 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .500 | 1.000 | .500 |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Darnell McDonald | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| David Ortiz | 1 | 1.000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 2.000 | 1.000 |
| Dustin Pedroia | 2 | .500 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | 1.000 | .500 |
| Cody Ross | 2 | .500 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | .500 | 2.500 | 2.000 |
| Jarrod Saltalamacchia | 2 | 1.000 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 2.500 | 1.500 |
| Nate Spears | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Ryan Sweeney | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Kevin Youkilis | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.000 | .000 |
 New York Yankees |
|||
| Date | Player | Status | Injury |
| September 09, 2012 | Mark Teixeira | Day-to-Day | Strained left calf |
| September 02, 2012 | Curtis Granderson | Day-to-Day | Right hamstring tendinitis |
| August 27, 2012 | Mark Teixeira | Day-to-Day | Strained left calf |
| August 22, 2012 | Ivan Nova | 15-Day DL | Right shoulder tightness |
| August 22, 2012 | Ivan Nova | 15-Day DL | Right shoulder tightness |
| August 17, 2012 | Mark Teixeira | Day-to-Day | Sore left wrist |
 Boston Red Sox |
|||
| Date | Player | Status | Injury |
| September 07, 2012 | Jarrod Saltalamacchia | Day-to-Day | Left game - back spasms |
| September 02, 2012 | Jacoby Ellsbury | Day-to-Day | Sore right wrist |
| August 25, 2012 | David Ortiz | 15-Day DL | Aggravated right Achilles strain |
| August 25, 2012 | Daniel Nava | 15-Day DL | Sprained left wrist |
| August 25, 2012 | Daniel Nava | 15-Day DL | Sprained left wrist |
| August 24, 2012 | Franklin Morales | 15-Day DL | Left shoulder fatigue |
BOSTON (AP) -- Derek Jeter doesn't even want to miss one inning of the New York Yankees ' playoff push.
The shortstop pulled up lame after lunging for first base on his double-play groundout to end the eighth inning of New York's 5-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night. Manager Joe Girardi had to talk him into coming out of the game, but Jeter said he would be back in the lineup when they try to hold onto first place in the AL East again Thursday.
"It's really not a thing," Jeter told reporters, refusing to confirm any details about the injury. "They just said, `Put ice on it (and) come back tomorrow."'
A day after Jacoby Ellsbury 's game-ending single dropped New York into a tie with Baltimore atop the division, the Yankees got all their runs on homers to remain there. Curtis Granderson hit two home runs and Robinson Cano also homered for the Yankees.
The Orioles beat Tampa Bay 3-2 on Wednesday night, preserving the tie and dropping the Rays three games back in the division.
"It's playoff baseball," Girardi said. "You're playing in the playoffs right now. That's the way it is for us."
Jeter had two hits to raise his batting average to .325, which is third in the AL. With one out and runners on first and third in the eighth, he hit a grounder to second base and ran down the first-base line to try to beat the relay throw from the shortstop.
Stretching for the base - too late to beat the throw - Jeter began limping on his left leg as he continued down the first-base line into right field. Girardi and trainer Steve Donohue rushed out to help him and Jeter tried to wave them off, but the manager overruled him.
"I said, `We're going to sit you out," Girardi told reporters, adding that Jeter had aggravated a previous injury. "It's not that serious. It's something we have to be aware of. But hopefully he's OK."
Girardi described the injury as a bone bruise, but Jeter called it a sprained ankle before becoming even more vague.
"Lower leg," he said.
David Phelps (4-4) gave up one run on five hits and a walk in 5 2-3 innings, striking out five. Rafael Soriano got four outs for his 37th save, but not before allowing a homer to Jarrod Saltalamacchia to lead off the ninth, followed by a fly ball that left fielder Chris Dickerson caught at the base of the Green Monster.
Mauro Gomez grounded out meekly to second base for the second out, then Soriano misplayed Mike Aviles ' chopper to extend the game. But Ellsbury followed with another chopper and Soriano gloved it, throwing to first for the final out.
"He hit the ball good. It just wound up in (Soriano's) glove," said Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine , who was ejected for arguing a called third strike to Cody Ross in the eighth and wasn't around to see the team lose for the 12th time in 14 games.
Saltalamacchia had a double, a triple, a homer and a walk for Boston. Aaron Cook (3-10) allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out two in five-plus innings.
The matchup of longtime division foes lacked much of the intensity that had characterized their rivalry in the past decade, gaining life only at the end after Valentine was ejected - along with Ross and third base coach Jerry Royster . The game was officially announced as a sellout, the 787th in a row at Fenway Park, but there were thousands of no-shows and many of those who did attend were Yankees fans.
They saw Granderson lead off the fourth inning with a homer and, after Alex Rodriguez singled, Cano followed with his career-high 30th home run to make it 3-0. Granderson homered again in the seventh inning after Jeter singled to make it 5-1.
In all, the Yankees have hit 34 homers in 14 games against the Red Sox this season.
The Red Sox made it 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh after back-to-back doubles by Saltalamacchia and Daniel Nava left runners on second and third. One run scored on Gomez's groundout and another came in on Aviles' pinch-hit RBI double.
Notes: Jeter scored his 1,860th run, passing Mel Ott for 12th on the career list. ... Casey McGehee replaced Jeter at shortstop. ... Red Sox broadcaster Joe Castiglione was honored for 30 years with the team in a pregame ceremony. ... The Red Sox activated RHP Scott Atchison (right elbow strain) from the 60-day disabled list and transferred LHP Franklin Morales (left shoulder inflammation) to the 60-day DL. ... Phelps had not won in four starts since Aug. 13. It's just the third time in nine starts that he has retired more than 15 batters. ... Cook has won just once in 12 starts since June.
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New York Yankees