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Preview: Yankees @ Red Sox (8/17/13)

Hiroki Kuroda (11-7, 2.33 ERA) continues his run for the Cy Young against John Lackey (7-10, 3.32 ERA) at Fenway. Kuroda’s been brilliant all year, and with CC Sabathia‘s struggles, has been the Yankees’ ace. In his last start against the Angels, he allowed three hits in eight shutout innings. He hasn’t allowed more than three runs in a start since June 30. “His offspeed stuff is very difficult to pick up,” Angels catcher Chris Iannetta said after the game. “The rotation on it, you couldn’t really pick it up. You had to wait a long time, which made you late on the fastball. If you’re trying to hit the fastball, you’re ahead on the offspeed. He kept guys off balance, very deceptive, very good location.”

Lackey is looking for his first win since July 12. When he last faced the Yankees on July 20, he gave up 10 hits and four runs over 6 1/3 innings in a loss. He is 4-2 with a 2.15 ERA in eight Fenway starts this season.

Lackey had plenty to say to the Boston Globe on Thursday about Alex Rodriguez being in the Yankees’ lineup during the series. He isn’t happy he has to face the third baseman after he received a 211 game suspension for his role in the Biogenesis performance enhancing drug investigation. “I’ve got a problem with it. You bet I do,” Lackey said. “How is he still playing? He obviously did something and he’s playing. I’m not sure that’s right. It’s pretty evident he’s been doing stuff for a lot of years I’ve been facing him.”

Rodriguez strongly denied a 60 Minutes’ report on Friday that reported his associates obtained and leaked documents to implicate Ryan Braun and Francisco Cervelli in the Biogenesis scandal. The news program reported that members of Rodriguez’s camp obtained versions from Biogenesis founder Anthony Bosch and leaked them to Yahoo! Sports earlier this year. “It’s not true,” Rodriguez said prior to batting practice at Fenway Park. “I spoke to Cervelli this morning, had a positive conversation. He understands that it’s not true. We’re on the same page.”

 

Notes on the game.

The Red Sox have won five of their last seven home games and eight of 14 at Fenway since the All Star break. They have also won 16 of their last 23, 20 of their last 28, and 26 of their last 37 games at Fenway.

Ivan Nova will pitch in one of the Yankees’ games in Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Blue Jays, Joe Girardi said Friday. He has not decided where to put Phil Hughes.

 

First pitch at 4:05 PM on Fox