Boston, MA (Sports Network) - While the New York Yankees are desperately
trying to reach the postseason, Boston's motivation is only the rival on the
other side of the diamond.
That was plenty good enough on Tuesday at Fenway.
Jacoby Ellsbury's fourth hit of the game, a solid single to right, plated
Pedro Ciriaco with the winning run in the ninth, as Boston edged the Yankees,
4-3, in the first contest of a three-game set.
Dustin Pedroia finished with three hits, including a solo home run, and two
runs batted in, while Ciriaco posted two hits and scored twice for Boston,
which had dropped four straight coming into the contest.
Jon Lester labored through 5 1/3 frames, throwing just 55 of his 102 pitches
for strikes, walking seven and giving up three runs and five hits. Andrew
Bailey (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth for the victory.
Nick Swisher finished with two hits and Derek Jeter drove in two runs for the
Yankees, who dropped into a tie for the American League East lead with
Baltimore, which downed Tampa Bay, 9-2, earlier on Tuesday.
Hiroki Kuroda gave up three runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 frames, but David
Robertson (1-7) lost it in the ninth, giving up the winning run after pitching
a scoreless eighth.
The Sports Network