Red Sox Escape New York With Win, Series Split

The Red Sox narrowly escaped from New York with a series split against the Yankees, thanks to a night of strong and clutch pitching.

The Red Sox needed every bit of it, too, as the offense was once again quiet against the Yankees. Starter Phil Hughes had some early trouble, stranding two baserunners in the first before running into a jam in the second. Ryan Kalish, on first with one out, broke for second. The throw from Posada sailed wide, and into center field, letting Kalish move on to third. A Bill Hall infield single got the job done to put the Red Sox up 1-0.

The inning would continue, however, as Jacoby Ellsbury collected his first hit since returning from the disabled list, slapping a liner over Derek Jeter's outstretched glove, and Marco Scutaro walked to load the bases. A groundout from J.D. Drew brought in the second run of the game, but the Red Sox couldn't do anything more despite making Phil Hughes throw about 40 pitches.

Hughes would settle in from there, managing to finish the sixth inning with only the two runs allowed. Jon Lester kept pace and then some, though, despite some control troubles. After keeping the Yankees without a hit for four innings, and without a run for six, Lester came into the seventh and loaded the bases on a single, a double (which bounced off the top of the wall, just barely shy of a game-tying homer) and a hit batter before recording an out.

After Lester struck out Curtis Granderson, Terry Francona turned to Daniel Bard. With the bases loaded, one out, and only a two run lead, Bard threw six quick pitches, striking out both Derek Jeter and Nick Swisher to end the threat.

The Sox would run into another pinch in the eigth, as Bard allowed a towering shot to Mark Teixeira to bring the Yankees within one, and set up runners on first and second with two outs, bringing in Jonathan Papelbon. One pitch to Austin Kearns later, and the Sox were into the ninth, where Papelbon would close the game by striking out the side around a Derek Jeter walk.

The Sox continue their road trip in Toronto tomorrow.