A five-run fourth inning, capped off by a thre-run home run by center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, propelled the Boston Red Sox (69-43) to a 10-4 win over the New York Yankees (69-43) at Fenway Park on Saturday, pulling the hated rivals back into a tie atop the American League East standings.
Yankees Vs. Red Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury’s Bat Leads Boston To 10-4 Win
The Boston Red Sox used a five-run fourth inning to beat the New York Yankees, 10-4
With the scored tied at two, Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis led off the bottom-half of the fourth inning with his 30th double of the season. Left fielder Carl Crawford would drive in Youkilis with a single. Two batters later, Ellsbury took a 2-0 pitch from Yankees starter C.C. Sabathia to right field, plating three runs and extending the Red Sox lead to 7-2.
The Yankees chipped away at the lead with an RBI single by shortstop Derek Jeter in the 5th, and first baseman Mark Teixeira's 32nd home run on the season in the 8th. But the Red Sox pulled away with three more runs in the bottom of the 8th, with Ellsbury driving home two runs on a single to center.
Red Sox starter John Lackey pitched six strong innings, surrendering six hits, two walks, and striking out five to improve to 10-8 on the season. Sabathia also went six innings on Saturday, giving up nine hits, walking one batter and striking out five. With the loss, Sabathia drops to 16-6 on the season.
The Red Sox improved to 9-2 against the Yankees this season, with the current three-game series concluding on Sunday night. Josh Beckett (9-4) takes the mound for the Red Sox, with Freddy Garcia (10-7) scheduled to start for the Yankees.
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