Jonathan Papelbon Slams Door As Red Sox Split Four-Game Set In New York

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Bill Hall had an RBI single and scored a run, and Jon Lester worked 6 1/3 effective innings, as the Boston Red Sox held on for a 2-1 win over the American League East-leading New York Yankees in the finale of a four-game set.

J.D. Drew knocked in the other run, while Jacoby Ellsbury added a single and tied a franchise record with four stolen bases in a single game for Boston, which earned a split in the series and have won three of its last five to pull within six games of the top spot in the division.

Lester (12-7) limited New York to four hits and three walks in taking the victory. The left-hander finished with six strikeouts. Jonathan Papelbon retired the last four hitters to earn his 28th save of the season.

Mark Teixeira clubbed his 26th homer of the season, but struck out with a runner in scoring position to end the game for the Yankees, who lead second- place Tampa Bay by two games.

Phil Hughes (13-5) grinded through six frames, throwing 114 pitches. The right-hander yielded two runs on six hits with one walk and struck out three.

Trailing 2-0 in the eighth, Teixeira led off the inning with a long homer into the right-field seats off Daniel Bard to get the Yankees on the board. Alex Rodriguez followed with a base hit and was promptly lifted for pinch- runner Brett Gardner, who took second on a groundout. Jorge Posada walked and pinch-hitter Lance Berkman popped out to left. Papelbon entered and needed only one pitch to retire Austin Kearns on a ground ball.

Joba Chamberlain stranded a runner on second in the top of the ninth, then in the home half, Papelbon struck out Curtis Granderson leading off before issuing a walk to Jeter, who got into scoring to position with a steal of second. Nick Swisher went down swinging and Teixeira followed suit to end the game.

Boston stranded a pair of runners in the first, but was able to manufacture a pair in the second. Ryan Kalish got on with a one-out single, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Posada before crossing the plate on Hall's base hit. Ellsbury followed with a single, his first hit in nearly 2 1/2 months after a long stay on the disabled list, and swiped second. After Marco Scutaro drew a walk to load the base, Drew chased in another with a ground ball to second.

Meanwhile, Lester hadn't allowed a hit until Kearns singled to center with one out in the fifth. Jeter punched a base hit through the right side two batters later to put runner on the corners, but Swisher went down swinging to end the threat.

The Yankees went quietly in the sixth, but had a golden opportunity in the seventh. Posada led off with a single and Marcus Thames just missed a game- tying two-run homer. The ball hit high off the padding in right center and bounced back into play with Thames pulling into second with a double and Posada taking third.

Kearns was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Granderson went down on strikes and Lester was replaced by Bard. The hard-throwing righty fanned Jeter and Swisher on three pitches each to keep it a 2-0 game.

Game Notes

Despite the loss, New York has still won seven of its 12 meetings with the Red Sox this season and is 13-7 in its last 20 at home against Boston...Ellsbury's four steals tied Jerry Remy's single-game franchise record...Hughes fell to 5-1 in seven day starts.