Kuroda Faces Lackey In Saturday Showdown

BOSTON -- Friday was not the best of days to be a Yankee. After placing Derek Jeter on the DL to start the day, the Yanks couldn't put much together to against the Red Sox, losing 4-2 in the series opener, then as if it weren't enough, Zoilo Almonte became the latest player to hit the DL when be was placed after the game with a left ankle sprain.

Now the Yankees are seven games back of first place, closer to the last place Blue Jays than first place Red Sox, and have lost six of their last nine games.With a load of tough games still ahead, the last two games in Boston can mean a lot for how this season will shape out.

"We know we're in fourth place, and we want to get back the pieces that we're missing in the lineup. We want to get our guys back," second baseman Robinson Cano said. "It's going to make a big difference. We know those guys have been here a long time."

Tonight's Lineup, 4:05 EST @ Fenway Park:

Gardner 8
Suzuki 9
Cano 4
Overbay 3
Wells 7
Hafner DH
Nunez 6
Stewart 2
Cruz 5
Kuroda 1

Pitching Preview:

Hiroki Kuroda will be the next Yankee tabbed with stopping the skid. He's been the most consistent pitcher on the teams and he been the most ace-like for the Yankees this season. Though being snubbed for an All-Star spot, Kuroda's ERA ranks second in the American League.

His low ERA has been helped by the fact that Kuroda hasn't permitted a single run in 12 innings pitched thus far in July, but it can't be sitting well in his mind that he is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA against the Red Sox this season.

Boston will counter with their own right-hander, in John Lackey. Lackey has been having a season much better than many expected. He's posted a 7-6 record and a solid 2.78 ERA after missing all of last year due Tommy John surgery.

Lackey's last start before the break came in Oakland against the Athletics, when held the A's to three hits and two runs over seven innings.

Although he's pitched well this season, Lackey hasn't been very successful in his career against the Yankees, holding a 4.68 ERA against them, his third-highest mark he has against any team he's faced more than three times.

Yankee Notes:

* After Friday night's game, the Yankees placed rookie outfield Zoilo Almonte on the disabled list with a left ankle sprain. X-Rays came back negative, but Almonte was in a walking boot and on crutches after the game.

Almonte initially hurt the ankle while trying to beat out a double play ball in the second inning, when he came up limping when returning to the dugout. He stayed in the game for a couple more inning, then left during the 5th inning.

Melky Mesa and Thomas Neal have been called up to replace the injured Almonte, with Alberto Gonzalez getting canned to make room for the second call-up.

Follow @GavinEwbank2013 on Twitter.