BOSTONThe Red Sox wrapped up their dismal six-game homestand with a 2-0 loss to the Yankees Thursday night. The loss dropped the Sox to 1-5 on the homestand after being swept over the weekend by the Blue Jays. They are 33-43 at home this season, have 12 of their last 14 games overall, and have not won consecutive games since Aug. 26-27. It was the sixth time the Sox have been shut out this season.Manager Bobby Valentine said after Felix Doubronts last start he would consider shutting down or resting the left-hander. That did not happen. And while Doubront pitched better Thursday against the Yankees than he has in recent outings, the result was the same as it has been in his last four decisions over his last seven starts since July 23. A loss.Doubront took the loss, falling to 10-9 with a 5.11 ERA. He went 6 13 innings, giving up two runs on four hits and five walks with five strikeouts. It was the first quality start he has recorded since he went 6 13 innings against the Yankees on July 29, six starts ago.The Yankees used the long ball to beat the Red Sox on Wednesday, scoring all their runs on home runs. But on Thursday, just onea double by No. 9 hitter Eduardo Nunez leading off the fifthof their five hits went for extra bases, but it was not involved in the scoring.In the fourth, Doubront loaded the bases with no outs. Alex Rodriguez led off with a single up the middle, stole second and took third when Doubront walked Robinson Cano and Russell Martin. Andruw Jones sacrifice fly scored Rodriguez, putting the Yankees up, 1-0.With one out in the seventh, Doubront walked Steve Pearce before giving up a single to No. 9 batter Eduardo Nunez, ending Doubronts outing. Junichi Tazawa entered, giving up a single to Derek Jeter, scoring Pearce for the 2-0 Yankees advantage.Meanwhile, despite outhitting the Yankees 6-5, the Sox offense could do little with Yankees pitching. They had just seven baserunners in the game, on six hits and a walk. The Sox did not get their first baserunner against starter Phil Hughes until Scott Podsednik walked with one out in the fourth. They had four hits, all singles, through seven innings. Pedro Ciriacos double leading off the eighth was the Sox first extra-base hit of the night. Ciriaco took third on Jacoby Ellsburys fly out to right but was stranded there when Ryan Lavarnway, pinch-hitting for Scott Podsednik, also flew out to right. The Red Sox were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.Hughes earned the win for the Yankees, improving to 15-12. Rafael Soriana earned his 38th save with a scoreless ninth.The Sox have lost 13 of their last 19 games against the Yankees dating back to Sept. 1, 2011, They have lost seven of nine games at Fenway Park this season.
STAR OF THE GAME: Phil HughesHughes went 7 13 innings, giving up five hits and one walk with seven setrikeouts. He improved to 15-12. It was the first time he has held the Red Sox scoreless in a start. He did not allow a hit until there were two outs in the fourth inning, the deepest he has ever gone into a game without allowing a hit since he held Tampa Bay hitless until the fifth inning on Sept. 15, 2010. The seven strikeouts were a personal high against the Red Sox.Hughes threw 95 pitches, 68 strikes, the fewest number of pitches hes thrown in an outing of at least seven innings.HONORABLE MENTION: Alex RodriguezRodriguez went 2-for-5 with a run scored. he scored the first run of the game when he led off the fourth with asingle up the middle, stole second, went to third when Doubront walked Robinson Cano and Russell Martin and scored on Andruw Jones sacrifice fly.The run was the 1,888th of his career tying him with Lou Gehrig for ninth place all-time.THE GOAT: The Red Sox offenseThe Sox offense did not get its first hit until there were two outs in the fourth inning. The Sox had just seven baserunners in the game, on six hits and a walk. They had just one extra-base hitPedro Ciriacos double leading off the eighth. The had runners on third twicein the fourth and in the eighth, with two outsand could not score. Sox batters were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
THE TURNING POINTWith one out and runners on first and second in seventh, Derek Jeter fisted a pitch from Felix Doubront and blooped a single into short center field, scoring Steve Pearce. Althought it put the Yankees up by just two runs, the difference was insurmountable for the Sox.
STAT OF THE DAY: 16With the loss, the Sox fall to a season-worst 16 games under .500. It is the sixth time they have been shutout this season.
QUOTE OF NOTEIts up there. Last year was tough for me obviously, defending the World Series and then not making it to the playoffs. But this is tough. Its not easy to come here and get beat every day. We got to try to turn it around and finish on a positive note.Cody Ross, on the level of frustration this season