G113: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1

Red Sox - 020 000 000 - 2  6  0
Yankees - 000 000 010 - 1  6  1

Boston got two runs and five hits in its first time through the lineup, then watched as Lester (6-4-0-3-6, 99), Daniel Bard (1.1-2-1-1-2, 38), and Jonathan Papelbon (1.1-0-0-1-3, 22) kept the Yankees at bay to split the four-game series.

Ryan Kalish singled with one out in the second. He stole second, went to third on Dumbo's throwing error, and scored on Bill Hall's single. Jacoby Ellsbury singled and Hall took third. Ellsbury stole second and Marco Scutaro walked. J.D. Drew grounded to second to bring in the second run.

In the seventh, Ellsbury was hit in the shin with a pitch. He quickly stole second and, after Drew walked, they pulled off a double steal. But Victor Martinez, who had the Sox's lone hit after the second inning, struck out to end the rally.

Lester did not allow a hit until the fifth inning, although he walked three batters up to that point. In the bottom of the seventh, after the Sox missed an opportunity to pad their lead, Jorge Posada singled, Marcus Thames doubled off the top of the wall in right-center -- missing a game-tying home run by an inch or two -- and Austin Kearns was plunked in the back leg. Bases loaded, no outs.

Lester struck out Curtis Granderson on four pitches (fsbs) and Terry Francona called on Bard. With the game on the line, Bard struck out both Derek Jeter and Nick Swisher on three pitches each.

Bard was tagged for a long home run to right by Mark Teixeira to start the eighth. Then Alex Rodriguez singled. In a long battle with Robinson Cano -- 6 pitches and 4 throws to first -- Bard got a grounder to second. Pinch-runner Brett Gardner took second. Bard walked Posada on four pitches. After Bard retired pinch-hitter Lance Berkman on a fly to shallow left, Tito went to Papelbon.

Bot needed only one pitch to escape the jam, getting Kearns to ground out to second.

In the ninth, after striking out Granderson, Papelbon walked Jeter, who then stole second. It did not matter, as Swisher and Teixeria both struck out.

The ball-strike accuracy of home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt was abysmal all afternoon. At times, more accurate calls might have been made by flipping a coin.

So Boston is back with 6 GB New York in the East with four more days whittled off the calendar. There are 49 games left to play. ... The Rays beat the Tigers 6-3.

Jon Lester / Phil Hughes

Scutaro, SS
Drew, RF
Martinez, C
Ortiz, DH
Beltre, 3B
Lowell, 1B
Kalish, LF
Hall, 2B
Ellsbury, CF

Lester is a bit of a funk, with a 4.39 ERA in four starts since the All-Star break. He was bothered by a cramp in his left hamstring in his last start -- five innings against Cleveland on Wednesday -- but he says he is fine. He was dehydrated during the game, and his wife had given birth several days before.

Notes: Carlos Delgado worked out in Pawtucket on Sunday. He might DH today. ... Dustin Pedroia is pushing to be back in the lineup on August 17, his 27th birthday. ... Jason Varitek took BP on the field for the first time since he fractured his right foot. ... Kevin Youkilis may rejoin the team as a cheerleader in Texas next weekend.

Tonight: Rays/Tigers

August 9:

1942 - The Cubs beat the Reds 10-8 in 18 innings in the first game of a double header in Cincinnati.

Cubs - 300 000 100 202 000 002 - 10 19  0
Reds - 000 000 004 202 000 000 -  8 20  0

1946 - For the first time in major-league history, all AL and NL games are played at night.

1967 - Burlington (Carolina League, A) plays a seven-inning game against Raleigh and hits into a double play in each inning.

1988 - The Cubs play their first-ever night game at Wrigley Field, beating the Mets 6-4.