Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - It took until the next-to-last day of the regular
season, but the New York Yankees finally won a game in which they trailed
after eight innings.
Raul Ibanez was the hero for New York, belting a pinch-hit, game-tying two-run
homer in the bottom of the ninth inning and later driving in the deciding run
with a single in the 12th as the Yankees rallied for a 4-3 victory over the
Boston Red Sox and moved closer to capturing the American League East title.
New York, which entered the night 0-58 when down heading into the ninth
inning, won for the third time in a row and maintained a one-game edge on
Baltimore for first place heading into Wednesday's final slate of games.
Either a Yankees' win in the finale or an Orioles' loss to Tampa Bay would
give the Bronx Bombers the division crown.
Onetime Red Sox hurler Derek Lowe (9-11) tossed two scoreless innings of
relief to earn the win for New York, which prevailed despite stranding 14
runners on base. The Yankees outhit Boston by a 16-8 margin for the night.
Dustin Pedroia, playing with a recently fractured finger, went 2-for-5 with an
RBI double in Boston's seventh straight defeat and 11th setback in 12 games.
James Loney had a solo homer in the loss.
Ibanez's homer came with one out off Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey, who failed
to protect a 3-1 lead in the ninth, while Andrew Miller (3-2) served up his
game-sealing single.
Jon Lester limited the Yankees to one unearned run while scattering eight hits
over the first five innings in his final 2012 start. David Phelps, replacing a
struggling Ivan Nova in the New York rotation, allowed two runs and three hits
in 5 2/3 innings of work.
GAME NOTES:
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