Yanks, Sox try to get leg up on FOX

[BuckFoston]

NEW YORK -- The last time the Yankees and Red Sox geared up for a showdown on national television, it was Opening Night and the two rivals were readying themselves for another season-long battle for American League East supremacy.

But when New York and Boston match up on FOX's Saturday Game of the Week at Yankee Stadium, they will be fighting for second place, trying not to lose ground to the first-place Baltimore Orioles.

"I said in Spring Training that Baltimore was a team to be reckoned with, so if we get caught up looking at one team, we'd be in trouble," said Gary Sheffield. "Toronto isn't a pushover, either. These teams in our division, we have to play them just like they're Boston. Whoever is in front of us, we have to pass them all, regardless of who it is."

The Yankees enter the weekend riding a hot streak, having won six consecutive series after their dreadful 11-19 start.

"We're not the kind of team to look back, to get caught up in things that happened behind us," said Jorge Posada. "We've never been like that. The stretch we're on right now is because we look forward."

The two teams split the first six meetings this season, with each club taking two of three in their home ballpark.

Carl Pavano, who flirted with the idea of signing in Boston this winter, takes the mound for the Yankees. Matt Clement, who has rewarded Boston's decision to sign him with a 5-0 start, gets the nod for the Red Sox.

"It's always fun to face if not the best, one of the best lineups in the league," Clement said. "It's a challenge. It's pretty intense with all the history that goes with it."

Despite allowing just two runs over 6 1/3 innings, Pavano did not get a decision in his only start against Boston this season, as Mariano Rivera blew the save in the ninth inning. Pavano has won his last four decisions, surrendering just one run over 16 innings in his last two starts.

Clement, who started against Pavano on April 5, didn't make it through five frames, allowing three runs (two earned) in 4 1/3 innings. Clement has allowed three runs or less in eight of his 10 starts this season, settling for five no-decisions to go along with his five wins.

Clement has had good success against the Yankees' two hottest hitters, holding Alex Rodriguez (.111) and Gary Sheffield (.190) down. The only other Yankee with a serious sampling against Clement is Tony Womack, who has a .342 average in 38 career at-bats against the Boston right-hander. The Red Sox have a .319 collective average against Pavano.http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASAp...=.jsp&c_id=nyy

[BuckFoston]

I will be sure to watch this one, heck always watch Yankee games on TV when they are on, I use gameday on MLB.com when they aren't. Season series.
• 04/14: Red Sox 8, Yankees 5
• 04/13: Yankees 5, Red Sox 2
• 04/11: Red Sox 8, Yankees 1

• 04/06: Red Sox 7, Yankees 3
• 04/05: Yankees 4, Red Sox 3
• 04/03: Yankees 9, Red Sox 2