Yankees blank Red Sox, 3-0
Photo credit: Getty Images | CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox. (September 26, 2009)
Raw Video: Sotomayor Throws Out First Pitch
Galleries
Red Sox at Yankees
How perfect would it be for the Yankees and their fans to clinch the AL East title with a weekend sweep of the Red Sox?
That could happen Sundayif the Yankees beat the Red Sox in their regular-season series finale. And that would have been almost unthinkable when the Yankees lost the teams' first eight meetings of the season.
CC Sabathia pitched one-hit ball in his seven innings yesterday, combining with Phil Hughes and Mariano Rivera on a two-hitter, and Robinson Cano snapped a scoreless tie with an opposite-field home run in the sixth as the Yankees beat the Red Sox, 3-0. One more Yankees win or Boston loss will clinch the division title for the Yankees (99-56), who lead by 71/2 games.
"We haven't gotten there yet,'' Derek Jeter said. "We have a series of goals and steps when we get to spring training, and the division is the first one. I like the way we're playing.''
During Tuesday night's game in Anaheim, the Yankees were reserved after learning they had clinched a playoff spot when Texas lost in Oakland. There was no postgame champagne celebration, either.
"When we clinched and we knew we were going to the playoffs, it wasn't a 'rah-rah' thing,'' Nick Swisher said. "It was 'Hey, congratulations, guys.' This is not what we're here for, just to get into the playoffs.''
But the Yankees will not be reserved when they clinch the division title, especially if it happens today. "That should be party time,'' Swisher said.
Sabathia (19-7) won for the ninth time in his last 11 starts, all wins by the Yankees. The only hit he allowed was Mike Lowell's ground-ball single past a diving Cano into centerfield leading off the fifth. Sabathia walked two, hit one and struck out eight.
He was lifted after throwing 96 pitches - only the sixth time all season he has been under 100. He has one more start to try for his 20th win before the playoffs begin. Then he will start Game 1 of the Division Series.
"Unfortunately, we couldn't score more runs,'' said Johnny Damon, who had a two-out, two-run single off former Met Billy Wagner in the eighth. "But CC knew exactly what to do.''
Hughes pitched a perfect eighth, striking out two. Rivera (43rd save) allowed a two-out single by Victor Martinez and hit Kevin Youkilis but struck out Lowell for the final out.
After beating the Red Sox for the eighth time in nine games, the Yankees have a chance to tie the season series at 9-9 today.
The Red Sox's magic number to clinch a playoff berth remained at three pending the Rangers' late game against Tampa Bay. Boston manager Terry Francona, who removed most of his regulars in the eighth inning Friday despite trailing by only four runs, rested Jason Bay and Alex Gonzalez yesterday.
The Yankees, after a mini-swoon last week that allowed the Red Sox to climb into sniffing distance in the division, have won four in a row against two potential ALCS foes - two in Anaheim against the Angels and two against the Red Sox.
"Our guys over the last four games have played very well,'' Joe Girardi said. "We've won some close games against tough teams, and that's a good thing.''
Cano led off the sixth against Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-6) with his 24th home run, a line drive to left that hit the top of the wall and ricocheted into the stands.
Matsuzaka, in his third start back from a lengthy stint on the DL because of a strained shoulder, allowed six hits and five walks in seven innings. He struck out three.
The Yankees scored two unearned runs in the eighth on Damon's soft two-out, two-run single to right. Before that hit, the Yankees were 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
The Yankees still were alive in the inning because shortstop Chris Woodward dropped a throw from catcher Martinez when Brett Gardner was caught in a rundown after attempting to score on a would-be wild pitch. Woodward was charged with an error. Jeter struck out with the bases loaded before Damon came through.
