Red Sox 11, Yankees 6

This was a really tough loss to swallow. The Yankees are now 1-7 against the Red Sox, and have officially dropped the first three series against their rivals. Even worse, the Sox have taken control of first place in the American League East.

A.J. Burnett simply did not have it, and was unable to get out of the sixth inning. He gave up eight runs, seven of which were earned, while walking four and allowing seven hits. Francisco Cervelli's defense certainly did not help him, but two overthrows did not lose the game for the Yankees.

In the first, Cervelli's error helped the Red Sox score their first run, an RBI ground out from Adrian Gonzalez. After Burnett walked Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz hit his second homer in as many nights to give the Sox an early 3-0 lead. In the second, Cervelli's second overthrow in as many innings led to another run, a sac fly from J.D. Drew. Burnett settled down in the third, tossing a 1-2-3 inning, but allowed another three runs in the fourth.

Boone Logan relieved Burnett in the sixth, and despite allowing an inherited runner to score, pitched relatively well. He struck out three in 1.2 innings, walked two, and did not give up a run.

Lance Pendleton relieved Logan in the eighth, and did not pitch well. He allowed three runs in the ninth, all but ending the Yankees hopes of coming back. Carl Crawford and J.D. Drew delivered the daggers, each hitting homers off the mop-up man.

On to the offense.

The Yankees went down quietly in the first three innings while Boston jumped out to their 7-0 lead. The Yanks finally got on the board in the 4th when Alex Rodriguez hit his 11th homer of the season. In the fifth, the Yanks began to put some runs on the board, as they scored three behind an RBI single from Cervelli, an RBI double from Derek Jeter, and a sac-fly from Mark Teixeira. 

The Yanks had one legitimate chance to get back into the game during the sixth inning. With one run in and the bases loaded with one down, Brett Gardner watched a wild pitch hit the back stop and stayed at third base. I have no idea why he stayed there, but he needs to be going hard for home on that play. The Red Sox gifted them an opportunity, and it was washed away after Jeter grounded into a rally killing, inning ending double play.

If Gardner takes off for home, the score becomes 8-6, and the Yankees have runners on 2nd and 3rd with only one out. Assuming Jeter still hits a ground ball, that inning does not end on a double play, and Curtis Granderson would have come to the plate with a chance to give the Yankees the lead.

In the ninth, Mark Teixeira singled home a run, but with two outs and the Yanks five runs down, it was too late. Alex Rodriguez would ground out to Marco Scutaro to end the game.

This is obviously not the type of game Yankee fans hoped for, but they have a chance to avoid a second straight sweep at the hands of the Red Sox tomorrow night with CC Sabathia on the hill. 

And since I told her I might, congratulations to my friend Steph, a Red Sox fan who was at tonight's game. Yeah I know, I'm surprised I have a friend who is a Sox fan, too.

Box Score.

Play of the Game: Jeter's double play ball reduced the Yankees' chances of winning by nearly 20%.