With their playoff hopes dwindling, Hiroki Kuroda (9-8, 3.88 ERA) goes against Anthony Ranaudo (3-0, 4.50 ERA). Kuroda has thrown quality starts in each of his last three outings. He has allowed more than three runs in just one of his last nine starts and has a 3.38 ERA since the break.
Ranaudo has started three Major League games and has won all three. This will be his second time against the Yanks, he won his debut holding them to two runs over six innings on August 1st. He is a New Jersey native and grew up rooting for the Bombers. “It’s going to be fun,” Ranaudo said. “I can’t even describe how excited I’m going to be. It will be pretty interesting tonight when I put my head on that pillow and see if I can fall asleep. There will be a lot of emotions, but like I said, I’m going to try to take it like it’s another game and do the things that have made me successful this year to this point, try to go as deep as I can into the game, put our team in a position to win.”
The Yankees are 14th in the AL in runs, ahead of only the Red Sox. They only had two hits with a runner in scoring position in the series opener, and one was from Derek Jeter, who had a poor August (.207/.226/.261). Despite the criticism, Girardi said he has no intention of moving him down the batting order. “I’m not so sure why he’s the one that’s necessarily picked on here,” Girardi said. “As I’ve said, this guy has been a money player his whole career, and we need him to be the last month.”
Notes on the game
The Sox and Yanks have split their last 38 meetings since September 12th, 2012.
The Yankees have lost 20 of their last 29 games against AL East opponents.
7:05 pm on Yes and ESPN.
