G142: Red Sox 4, Yankees 3

Yankees - 100 002 000 - 3  6  1
Red Sox - 002 001 001 - 4 12  0

Jacoby Ellsbury celebrated his 29th birthday with four hits, including the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth. Pedro Ciriaco had singled with one out and gone to second on Mike Aviles's infield single. Ellsbury lined a hard grounder to right and Ciriaco easily beat Ichiro Suzuki's throw to the plate.

Ellsbury also singled in a run in the third inning; he then stole second and scored on the second of Dustin Pedroia's three hits. Pedroia tied the game at 3-3 with a solo home run in the sixth.

Despite having runners on base all night, the Yankees scored only three runs off Lester (5.1-5-3-7-5, 102). His seven walks were a career-high; only 55 of his 102 pitches were strikes.

The Yankees left the bases loaded in the first inning and stranded six men through the first three innings. For the night, New York was 1-for-12 with RATS.

The Orioles beat the Rays 9-2, so Baltimore and New York are once again tied atop the AL East.

Hiroki Kuroda / Jon Lester

Ellsbury, CF
Podsednik, DH
Pedroia, 2B
Loney, 1B
Ross, LF
Lavarnway, C
Kalish, RF
Ciriaco, 3B
Aviles, SS

The Red Sox have a chance to spoil the Yankees' playoff hopes with a strong showing in the six games they have against the AL East leaders. In addition to three games this week, Boston visits the Bronx to close out the regular season on October 1-3.

Also tonight: The Orioles (1 GB) host the Rays (2 GB).