CC, Dempster Dual On Sunday Night Baseball

BOSTON -- Defense came up big in yesterday's 5-2 win over the Red Sox, with two runners cut down at the plate and a double play that you don't see everyday. Hiroki Kuroda tossed another solid outing and most importantly, the Yankees scored three runs in one inning, the 7th, to help bring down Boston.

"That's what we have to do," Girardi said. "There's not too many nights when we're going to slug. That's not who we are. We have to pitch extremely well. We have to get distance from our starter and allow our bullpen to go to work and have a lead. Having a lead is really important."

The Yankees gained back a game on the first place Red Sox and today's game means a lot. If the Yankees win, they'll pull to within five games of first place, but if they lose they'll fall back to seven games behind with nine games against the Rangers, Rays and Dodgers coming up.

Tonight's Lineup, 8:05 EST @ Fenway Park:

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

Pitching Preview:

As I wrote last night, CC Sabathia hasn't been pitching up to standards in 2013. But tonight against the Boston Red Sox is the perfect opportunity for Sabathia to reassert himself as the dominant workhorse ace he once was.

But in a sub-par 2013 season, CC is coming off one of the worst starts in his Yankee career, giving up eight runs in only four innings to a not so good Minnesota Twins ballclub.

If he's going to rebound, it's going to have to come against a Red Sox lineup that has seen him twice already this season. Boston roughed him up on opening day, but CC bounced back to fire 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball on May 31st.

"I think given the position that we're in, trying to make up games and trying to win this division, I think every start is going to be big. It'll start with [Sunday]," Sabathia said.

Jon Lester was suppose to take the mound for Boston on Sunday, but he's been pushed back to Tuesday. Instead, the Red Sox will send Ryan Dempster to the mound in the Sunday Night Baseball showdown.

Dempster is also coming off a rough start right before the break, lasting only 3 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs (four earned) on 91 pitches against the Seattle Mariners.

Dempster made his first start with the Red Sox against the Yankees back on April 4th at Yankee Stadium. He took the loss after allowing three runs on five hits, while walking four and striking out eight in five innings of work.

Yankee Notes:

* Alex Rodriguez is on track to return to the Yankees on Monday or Tuesday in Texas, but things are starting to look less likely as A-Rod is heading back to New York to under an MRI on his sore left quad. You can read more about that by clicking this sentence.

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