New York Yankees (73-59).



Yanks- 5

BoSox- 3
Final


The Yankees are in desperate need of a sweep.

The Yankees were not intimidated in the least by the arsenal of Daisuke Matsuzaka. Andy Pettitte, Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, and Joba Chamberlain came up huge in the first of a three-game series with the Red Sox.

Andy Pettitte (12-7), was solid and Dice-K was torched in Game 1 of a very important series. Pettitte allowed 3 runs, 6 hits, and 2 walks in seven strong innings of work.

Dice-K allowed 5 runs, 6 hits, and 3 walks in going down in DEFEAT for the third consecutive time.

The Yankees jumped on Dice-K with a two-run first-inning. The Yankees, who were leading 1-0 in the bottom of the first, extended their lead to 2-0 when Jorga Posada ripped a double to left that scored Bobby Abreu.

With the game tied 2-2 in the fifth, the Yankees took back the lead when Derek Jeter's solo home run gave them a 3-2 lead.

The BoSox would tie the game at 3-3 in the seventh, but the Yankees weren't finished with Dice-K. Johnny Damon sent Dice-K to the showers when his two-run home run landed in the first row in right field. The Yankees took a 5-3 lead, and didn't look back.

Joba Chamberlain took the ball in the eighth-inning and pitched a scoreless inning in relief of Pettitte.

Mariano Rivera struck out two in the ninth and recorded his 21st save of the season.

Damon, Jeter, and Posada went a combined 5-for-11 with 3 runs and 4 RBIs on the night.