NEW YORK -- Given that the Red Sox were merely trying to play spoiler, it was nowhere near as dramatic as some other October battles between these two teams. But in a thrilling comeback, the New York Yankees rallied to tie, then overtake the Red Sox, 4-3 in 12 innings.
Down to their final three outs, the Yanks got a leadoff single in the ninth from Curtis Granderson and a two-run, pinch-hit homer from Raul Ibanez off closer Andrew Bailey to tie the game at 3-3.
Three innings later, Ibanez struck again, singling home Francisco Cervelli from second base against Andrew Miller.
The loss was Boston's seventh in a row. They're winless on the final road trip of the season with one game remaining.
Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia, both of whom were out of the lineup Monday when the Sox were embarrassed 10-2, combined to account for two first-inning runs. Ellsbury singled and rode home on Pedroia's double to right-center. Pedroia then advanced to third on a groundout and scored on Cody Ross's sacrifice fly.
James Loney crushed a solo homer into the second deck in right to open the ninth looked like insurance until Ibanez struck in the bottom of the inning.
The Yankees had managed an unearned run in the second, with help from an error by third baseman Pedro Ciriaco and another misplay by shortstop Jose Iglesias. That was the only run off Jon Lester, who was left with a no-decision when Bailey imploded in the ninth.