New York @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 12, 2012 ) NY Yankees 5, Boston 4

The New York Yankees held off a battle from the Boston Red Sox and maintained their share of first place in the American League East, but it may have come at a price. Derek Jeter exited Wednesday’s win in the eighth inning with what manager Joe Girardi described as a bone bruise after coming up awkwardly in a run down the first base line. Jeter hopes to be in the lineup for Thursday’s rubber game.

Jeter, who needs one hit to tie Willie Mays for 10th place on the all-time list, has been one of the few consistent offensive threats for New York during its recent slump. Wednesday’s 5-4 triumph marked just the eighth win in the last 21 games for the Yankees, who are tied with the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the East. The Red Sox are trying to play spoiler against their hated rivals and took the series opener on a walk-off single but fell just short on Wednesday. Boston has dropped 12 of its last 14 games and has topped for runs only once (a 7-5 loss) in its last 13 contests.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), NESN (Boston), MLBN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Phil Hughes (14-12, 4.13 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Felix Doubront (10-8, 5.21)

Hughes has allowed two earned runs or less in four of his last five starts and won at Baltimore last weekend, surrendering three runs (two earned) on six hits in six innings. The one big problem for the right-hander has been keeping the ball in the park. Hughes’ 33 home runs allowed rank second in the majors. The 26-year old has yielded four home runs in his last two starts against Boston but has won them both, going seven innings in each.

Doubront has worked seven innings only once in his 25 starts this season and has not made it through six in any of his last five turns. The 24-year old left-hander has posted an 0-3 record with an 8.87 ERA in those five starts. Doubront has been sharp in two turns against New York, allowing a total of two runs on eight hits in 12 1/3 total innings while striking out 15.

WALK-OFFS

1. Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher have each pulled out of lengthy slumps for New York. Granderson homered twice on Wednesday and has eight RBIs in his last three games while Swisher has two hits in each of the first two games against the Red Sox.

2. Boston C Jarrod Saltalamacchia returned Wednesday after missing three games with back spasms and finished a single shy of the cycle.

3. Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine set a franchise record when he was ejected for the sixth time on Wednesday.