Boston @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 28, 2012 ) Boston 8, NY Yankees 6

The Boston Red Sox were finally able to solve the New York Yankees in what the team termed a must-win game Saturday night, but the result will be inconsequential if Boston cannot follow it up with another victory in the rubber game of the series Sunday night at Yankee Stadium. In winning for only the second time in eight games both overall and against the Yankees this season, the Red Sox still sit 10 1/2 games behind New York in the AL East and 5 1/2 games out in the wild card chase.

The Yankees continue to ride the long-ball parade, clubbing three more homers Saturday night to give them a major league-leading 159 for the season and 22 in eight games against Boston. New York is averaging a shade over eight runs against the Red Sox and could be in position for a series sweep if not for a misplayed fly ball that derailed a comeback from a five-run deficit. Mark Teixeira has four homers and 18 RBIs against the Red Sox this season.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Felix Doubront (10-5, 4.54 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Hiroki Kuroda (10-7, 3.34)

Doubront was hit hard his last time out, getting pelted for six runs on eight hits over five innings in a 9-1 loss to the Texas Rangers. Doubront has thrown 107 innings this season, triple the total of his previous two seasons combined in the majors. He has made six appearances (two starts) against the Yankees and logged a 1-0 mark and 0.94 WHIP.

Kuroda is 4-0 in his last six starts and is coming off back-to-back superb outings in which he allowed one run on seven hits in 14 innings. His worst outing during the winning streak came at Boston on July 6, when he was pounded for seven runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings. He must be wary of Red Sox 1B Adrian Gonzalez, who is batting .308 (8-for-26) with two homers against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Yankees have scored at least five runs in all eight games against the Red Sox. It's the longest such streak for New York against Boston since a 19-game stretch in 1931-32.

2. Red Sox rookie Pedro Ciriaco is 10-for-18 against the Yankees and has delivered the go-ahead run in both Boston's wins.

3. Yankees RF Nick Swisher (hip) could be back in the lineup Sunday. He has not started the past seven games, but pinch hit in the ninth inning Saturday.