By Joe Haggerty
CSNNE.com Bruins InsiderFollow @hackswithhaggs
BOSTON -- DH David Ortiz cracked a solo home run in Friday nights loss to the Yankees, and that four-bagger represented his 50th extra base hit of the season. He has now reached 50 extra base hits in each of the last 10 seasons beginning in 2002, and is the only Major Leaguer to accomplish that feat (Albert Pujols and Carlos Lee have done it in the previous nine seasons from 2002-2010). Ortiz has reached that mark in all nine seasons with the Red Sox, and matched Carl Yastrzemski (1962-70) for the most consecutive 50 extra base hit seasons by a Red Sox player ever.
RHP Matt Albers pitched two innings of hitless relief for the Red Sox in Friday nights loss, and has allowed just two runs in his last 21 outings. Albers has stepped up marvelously as a reliable right-hander with RHP Bobby Jenks beset by so many injuries this season, and has been particularly good against the New York Yankees this season. Albers has been unscored upon in four appearances spanning six frames against the Bronx Bombers, and continues to be one of the most reliable arms out of the pen for Sox manager Terry Francona.
Jed Lowrie played nine innings for Triple-A Pawtucket in their 6-5 victory and went 1-for-4 with an RBI while filling the designated hitter role. Lowrie will play a full game at shortstop on Saturday, andbarring any setbackswill join the Sox for their road trip in Minnesota and Seattle beginning Monday.
Friday was Carl Crawfords 30th birthday and he celebrated the big day by doing 2-for-4 with a double in the loss to the Yankees.
The loss spoiled Jon Lesters five-game winning streak against the Yankees dating back to May 5, 2010 while posting a 2.51 ERA in those five outings. The last Red Sox player to win more than five consecutive starts against the Yankees was Willard Nixon, who had six straight winning starts against New York over the course of the 1954 and 1955 baseball seasons.
Joe Haggerty can be reached at jhaggerty@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Joe on Twitter at http:twitter.comHackswithHaggs