One of Major League Baseball’s most storied rivalries willbe renewed tonight as the Boston Red Sox head to New York to takeon the Yankees in game one of the American League ChampionshipSeries.
For the second straight year, the Red Sox and Yankees will meetin the championship series. New York earned a trip to lastseason’s World Series after an Aaron Boone home run propelledthe Yankees past Boston in the seventh game. New York went on tolose the 2003 World Series 4-2 to the Florida Marlins.
Both teams have re-equipped following last season’sseries, with the Red Sox adding pitcher Curt Schilling in theoffseason and shortstop Orlando Cabrerra in a trade. Trading theunhappy Nomar Garciappara to the Chicago Cubs, Boston receivedCabrera in a three-team deal. Since his arrival, Cabrerra hascommitted just eight errors in 57 games and has a .996 fieldingpercentage.
On the other side, New York added shortstop Alex Rodriguez afterBoston failed to put up enough money to acquire the AL MVP.
While Rodriguez has not exactly put up MVP-calliber numbers inNew York, he has still managed to bat .286 with 36 home runs and108 RBIs. Rodriguez also has thrived in his new position at thirdbase, committing 13 errors in 155 games with a .965 fieldingpercentage in his first year at the hot corner.
The Red Sox put together an 11-8 record against the Yankees thisseason, including a July 24 win that involved catcher Jason Varitekand Rodriguez inciting a bench-clearing quarrel. Since theincident, Boston went 45-20 to close out the regular season andclinch the wild card.
The Red Sox continued to stay hot in the first round of theplayoffs, sweeping the Anaheim Angels 3-0 after batting .302 andscoring 25 runs in the three-game series.
In New York, the Yankees witnessed their 10.5 game lead shrinkto 3.5 games heading into a late Setepember matchup with the RedSox, yet managed to split the final six games of the regular seasonwith Boston and clinch the division title for the seventh straightyear.
Heading into the ALDS playoffs, New York rebounded from a 2-0shutout loss at home to defeat the Minnesota Twins 3-1, marking thesecond straight year the Yankees have defeated the Twins in thedivisional series.
Now, Boston and New York will face off for the twentieth timethis season, with the Yankees earning home field advantage.
Taking the mound for the Yankees in game one is pitcher MikeMussina, who will oppose Schilling.
The Mussina-Schillling matchup marks the second time the twohave faced off in the postseason, with Schilling getting pastMussina in the 2001 World Series. Schilling shared World Series MVPhonors with teammate Randy Johnson as the Arizona Diamondbacks wonthe series 4-3.
Despite a career postseason ERA of 1.66, Schilling will have tobattle an injured ankle that may require a shot of the painkillermarcaine prior to the game.
Leadoff hitter Johnny Damon will head the Boston offense,batting .467 with seven hits and four runs scored in the divisionalseries against the Angels.
Designated hitter David Ortiz will provide an offensive boost,putting together four RBIs and a .545 average in the series. Ortizalso hit the series-clinching home run against the Angels in gamethree in Boston.
For the Yankees, Rodriguez has heated up with the start ofpostseason, batting .421 with three doubles and a home run againstthe Twins.
Left fielder Hideki Matsui also has stepped up, scoring threeruns and batting .412 in the postseason.
MVP candidate Gary Sheffield has struggled thus far, going4-for-18 against the Twins with just two RBIs.
Led by game two starter Pedro Martinez, the Red Sox’spitching has also proved successful in this year’splayoffs.
Martinez pitched seven innings against the Angels, giving up sixhits and three runs en route to Boston’s 8-3 win.
Reliever Kevin Foulke has given up just two hits in threeinnings pitched while striking out five in closing duties.
Meanwhile, Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera has been penciledinto New York’s roster despite spending the weekend in Panamafollowing the death of two family members.
Rivera has proven vital to the Yankees’ bullpen,converting 30-of-33 save chances since 1996.
Rivera earned series MVP honors last season against the Red Soxafter pitching three scorless innings in game seven of theALCS.
New York’s probable game two starter will be formerCub’s starter Jon Lieber, who gave up just three runs andseven hits last week against the Twins in his first postseasonapperance.