Red Sox Facing Rookie Ivan Nova in Middle Game in New York

The Red Sox managed to knock the Yankees into second place on Friday night. They hope to keep hurting their rival's hopes for a division crown when the two tangle again Saturday.

Boston's 10-8 win dropped New York one-half game behind Tampa Bay in the American League East. The Sox are 6 1/2 behind the Yankees with five remaining between the two.

With little hope for a miracle, Boston can turn its attention to several milestones, including Jon Lester's bid for a 20th win. The lefty has 18 and will make two more starts, including Saturday.

Rookie Ivan Nova is on the mound for New York.

WHEN AND WHERE

Red Sox (85-68) at Yankees (92-62)
Saturday, Sept. 25, 4:10 p.m.
Yankee Stadium, Bronx

HEAD TO HEAD

The Yankees have won 16 of the last 23 meetings.

PITCHING MATCHUP

LHP Jon Lester (18-8, 3.06 ERA) vs. RHP Ivan Nova (1-0, 4.11 ERA)

Lester remains in pursuit of becoming the first Red Sox lefty to reach 20 wins since Mel Parnell in 1953. He has won five straight starts and will have one more after this one.

The southpaw tossed seven shutout innings in a 6-0 win over Toronto his last time out. He is 5-1 with a 3.63 ERA in 11 career starts against the Yankees and 3-1 with a 2.35 mark in New York.

Included in that run of success is 6 1/3 scoreless innings in a nail-biting 2-1 win in Yankee Stadium on Aug. 9.

Nova will be facing the Red Sox for the first time. The 23-year-old rookie has made six career starts, lasting a full six innings just once. New York has won each of his last five starts.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• Boston has won five straight road games.
• The Sox' 7-8-9 hitters on Friday were a combined 6-for-12 with five runs, two homers and eight RBIs.
• Infielder Jed Lowrie is batting .400 (12-for-30) with three homers and seven RBIs in his last eight games.

Yankees

• New York is just 26-24 in series openers.
• Third baseman Alex Rodriguez hit two homers Friday night to move past Sammy Sosa and into sixth place on the all-time home run list. Rodriguez has 610.
• Center fielder Curtis Granderson has eight home runs in his last 21 games at Yankee Stadium.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• First baseman Mike Lowell was removed from Friday's game after taking a ground ball off his right temple. He showed no signs of a concussion and is day-to-day.
• Second baseman Dustin Pedroia had season-ending surgery Sept. 3 on his broken left foot. He is expected to be fully healed for spring training.
• Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (ribs) will not resume any baseball-related activities until after the season ends.
• Center fielder Mike Cameron had season-ending surgery to repair an abdominal tear.
• First baseman Kevin Youkilis had successful surgery to repair the torn right adductor muscle on his right hand. He will miss the remainder of the season.
• Left-hander Felix Doubront has pain behind his left clavicle. He will not pitch again this season but hopes to throw a bullpen session before the regular season ends.
• Right-hander Junichi Tazawa underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is out for the year.

Yankees

• Designated hitter Nick Johnson is out for the year with an inflamed right wrist tendon.
• Right-hander Alfredo Aceves will not return due to a strained lower back.
• Left-hander Damaso Marte is on the 60-day DL with left shoulder inflammation.

OUTLOOK

If Lester can maintain his dominance of the Yanks, there will be some pretty good drama in Chicago five days from now. If Boston can somehow sweep this series, there might be even more.