Game 102: Yanks @ Red Sox

GAME 1 OF 3
Yankees (56-45) @ Red Sox (60-43)
Game Time: 7:05 p.m. @ Fenway Park
TV: MY9 Radio: WCBS 880

STARTING LINEUPS:

YANKEES

Johnny Damon DH
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jason Giambi 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Melky Cabrera CF
Jose Molina C
Brett Gardner LF

Joba Chamberlain RHP (2-3, 2.52 ERA)

RED SOX

Jacoby Ellsbury LF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
David Ortiz DH
Kevin Youkilis 1B
Mike Lowell 3B
J.D. Drew RF
Jed Lowrie SS
Jason Varitek C
Coco Crisp CF

Josh Beckett RHP (9-6, 3.98 ERA)

PLAYER STATS:

YANKS BA V.S BECKETT: (.246)
SOX BA V.S CHAMBERLAIN: (.233)

NOTES:

The Yankees have won six straight and 11 of 14. They are a solid 23-23 on the road but have lost four of their last five away from the Bronx. … The Red Sox are coming off a three-game sweep in Seattle.

Josh Beckett is 3-0, 3.92 ERA against the Yankees this season. He had been 4-3 prior to this season with a 6.65 ERA.

Johnny Damon is 2 for 11 since he came off the disabled list. But playing at Fenway could be just what he needs to get going.

Derek Jeter is 8 of 24 with four RBI and four extra-base hits. … A-Rod has eight RBI in the last six games. … Robbie Cano is 14 of 27 with 7 RBI and 5 runs scored since the break. He has gone from .246 to .265.

LATEST UPDATES ON RUMORS AND MORE:

The Yankees seem to be trying to find a way to get Jarrod Washburn. If he wants to waive his no-trade rights, it would be good news for the Bombers. But they’re not going to extend him or pay him off to do that. They also want Seattle to pick up some of the money Washburn has remaining. That is likely flexible based on the quality of the prospects they trade.

There is no evidence that the Yankees are pursuing a catcher. There are plenty of teams trying to get them to take a catcher. A name many sources have said Yanks to be interested in is Rangers' catcher Gerald Laird who was hitting .306 with 4 HR, 25 RBI, and an OPS of .797 before going on the DL. Other names thrown out there were likes of Kansas City' Miguel Olivo, Tigers' catcher Ivan Rodriguez, Benji Molina from San Francisco, Rod Barajas from Toronto and Lo Duca from the Nationals.

The Yankees aren’t flat-out saying no to Barry Bonds but it's unlikely that they will sign him.

The lefty reliever market is being driven by Colorado and Pittsburgh. Both seem think they can get blue-chip prospects for those guys.

Brian Bruney continued his rehab stint who has now appeared in nine minor-league games, throwing 11.1 innings. He has given up nine hits, 4 earned runs, seven walks and 12 strikeouts. Heard he topped out at 93 which is not enough to where he was at 97 mph.

Ian Kennedy has pitched very well of late (9 ER in his last 33.1 innings) and could be getting back in the mix. He needed just 1 out in the 7th to complete his no-no but Chris Basak’s second error of the night extended the game. Scott Thorman then cracked a double and another error allowed the tying run to score.

Freddy Garcia would cost nothing except money.

The right-hander, who had shoulder surgery last year, will have a showcase on Aug. 5. Virtually every team in contention has some degree of interest in Garcia. The list includes the Cardinals, Phillies, Rangers, Red Sox, Royals, Tigers, Mets, White Sox and Yankees.

Dodgers have offered Yanks Kemp and Lowe for Cano but the Yankees weren't looking to deal their hot second basemen.

UPDATE 8:09 p.m. :

THE YANKEES HAVE MADE A TRADE:

OF Xavier Nady and LHP Damaso Marte from Pittsburgh for RHP Ross Ohlendorf + 3 prospects.