Friday night promises to be fraught with action as Alex Rodriguez returns to Fenway Park. But for anyone just looking for good baseball, a promising battle between lefties is on tap, too.
The Red Sox and Yankees are opening their three-game series with two southpaws on the mound: veteran Andy Pettitte (7-9, 4.62 ERA) for New York and second-year hurler Felix Doubront (8-5, 3.66) for Boston. Aside from drawing out the usual right-handed lineups, the matchup also carries some symbolism for how the year has gone for both sides. The Yankees will look to a veteran to pull out some magic while the Red Sox will ride a young arm who has really hit his stride this season.
Mike Napoli is back in the lineup for the Red Sox after a day off. He’s looking to finally shake his slump after finding his stroke Wednesday with a powerful home run that almost got the job done for the Sox. Jonny Gomes’ right-handed bat will also join the lineup.
For the Yankees, Rodriguez is again the main draw. He’s at Fenway for the first time since returning to baseball after a long layoff due to offseason hip surgery. It’s also his first time back since he was suspended 211 games for his involvement with the Biogenesis clinic, a suspension he is now appealing. Red Sox fans, who have long enjoyed giving Rodriguez a hard time, will get their chance Friday night.
Here are the rest of Friday night’s lineups for the Red Sox and Yankees.
Red Sox (72-51)
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Shane Victorino, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Jonny Gomes, LF
Stephen Drew, SS
Mike Napoli, 1B
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Felix Doubront, P
Yankees (62-58)
Brett Gardner, CF
Eduardo Nunez, SS
Robinson Cano, 2B
Alfonso Soriano, LF
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Vernon Wells, DH
Ichiro Suzuki, RF
Mark Reynolds, 1B
Chris Stewart, C
Andy Pettitte, P
