The Yankees are rested from the All Star Game and kick off the second half of the season renewing the most intense rivalry in sports. Andy Pettitte (7-6, 4.39 ERA) gets the first crack at the Sox and takes on Felix Doubront (6-3, 3.91 ERA). The 41 year old Pettitte has been disappointed by his performance this season. The lefty is 2-3 with a 5.35 ERA over his last six starts, and opponents have hit .320 against him in those games. He defeated the Red Sox on April 4 in New York.
After a couple of speed bumps early in the season, Doubront has given up only three or more earned runs twice in his past 11 starts. He allowed just one run on five hits while striking out six batters over seven strong frames against Seattle.
Being six games out of first place, and in fourth, the aging Yankees feel the pressure to pick it up. “I think there’s urgency no matter what,” Vernon Wells said. “The good thing is we have several games left against Boston, against the teams ahead of us. You control your destiny in the second half. You play well, you give yourself a chance.” The Yankees will have plenty of opportunities in the second half of the season to cut into a steep division deficit. “It’s not the end of the world either way, but that’s kind of the vision that I think we have as far as knowing whatever’s ahead of us,” Lyle Overbay said. “It’s on us. We control our own destiny.”
The Yankees are expected to have news soon on Derek Jeter‘s right quadriceps, which he strained in his season debut July 11. Jeter was playing his first game of the season after breaking his ankle in last year’s playoffs, and finds himself back on the shelf. New York is hoping fellow middle infielder Robinson Cano won’t have to join him after Cano was hit by a pitch in the first inning of Tuesday’s All Star Game. The All Star second baseman was removed after, but he expects to play Friday. “They called head athletic trainer Steve Donohue and everything is good with them,” Cano said. “They said just put ice on it, the X-ray was negative and get some rest.”
Notes on the game.
The Red Sox hold a 4-2 lead in the season series, with all six games so far being in the Bronx.
Last year the Yankees went 7-2 in Boston.
The Red Sox are 31-16 at home this season.
Pettitte has a 3.87 ERA in 100 career innings at Fenway.
David Ortiz has 72 plate appearances against Pettitte, the most of any active Major Leaguer. He is hitting .361 with seven doubles, a home run and 13 RBIs.
Game kicks off at 7:10 PM (EST) on Yes
