The Red Sox have built their lead to 7-3 entering the seventh after a big fourth-inning burst capped off by Jacoby Ellsbury’s three-run shot.
John Lackey didn’t waste any time giving the two runs the Sox had earned in the third back. The third inning started with a single, a walk, and a hit batter, loading the bases with zero outs. A double play ball helped keep things in control, but Eric Chavez’ single over Carl Crawford’s head gave the Yankees the tying run before Lackey could close out the inning.
Just when it seemed like a repeat of Friday’s defeat, though, the Sox offense kicked it into high gear. Kevin Youkilis led off the bottom of the inning with a double, and after David Ortiz struck out, Mike Aviles dropped a lazy flair in front of Nick Swisher in right. Youkilis could not score, having been caught up waiting for the pitch to drop, but had no problem reaching home as Carl Crawford picked up his second hit of the day, shooting a well-hit ground ball into left field.
With two outs, Marco Scutaro continued his unusual record of hitting against C.C. Sabathia, lining a ball up the middle to drive in a fourth Boston run and keeping the inning going to give Jacoby Ellsbury a chance. With two men on, the center fielder gave his MVP candidacy another extra boost, turning a 2-0 fastball into a towering fly that just barely made its way into the stands in right, putting the Sox up 7-3.
John Lackey surrendered another run in the fifth, but bore down and ended up striking out the next two batters before getting a groundout to end the threat. He would come back out for the sixth and pitch around a leadoff single to finish his day with a quality start.