New York Yankees defeat Boston Red Sox, 10-3

As his starting pitcher fell apart in the sixth inning — four hits, two walks (one intentional), two hit batters, and a whopping six runs — the manager remained in the dugout.

Terry Francona didn’t move as the Yankees moved up 90 feet at a time. By the end of the top of the sixth, one Yankee had been forced out of the game with a sore left knee (plunked by a pitch) and their captain had been drilled in the back, and yet Josh Beckett was the one who had sustained the bea...

The scene in the Yankee dugout didn’t quite match the reaction of the same players after last night’s game.

There’s no question the Yankees were miffed about Josh Beckett’s sixth-inning hit-by-pitch spree, which probably cost them Robinson Cano’s services this afternoon. The already-injured Derek Jeter, who moved into second place on the Yankees’ career games played list (2,165), probably didn’t need a fastball in the back.

The Yankees are dropping fast and furious. ...

Red Sox and Yankees fans used to spend hours arguing which shortstop was better, Nomar Garciaparra or Derek Jeter. The hot question has now shifted to the right side of the infield. Dustin Pedroia or Robinson Cano?

As the old rivals opened a three-game series at Fenway Park last night, it was with their second basemen leading the way. Pedroia started the night hitting .303 with seven home runs and 21 RBIs over 29 games. Cano was hitting .362 with nine homers and 21 RBIs...

BOSTON - The difference between these two famous rivals these days is obvious: while the Yankees keep getting hurt, it's the Red Sox who are hurting.

Painful as it may be at the moment, you'd rather be on the New York side of the rivalry. That could change if the Yankees keep losing players at this rate, as Nick Johnson and Robinson Cano became the latest to go down with injuries Friday night.

But not as long as Phil Hughes continues to pitch like an ace, as he did i...

BOSTON - Even when first place isn't on the line, tensions run high when the Yankees and Red Sox meet. Things didn't boil over Friday night between the ancient rivals, but Boston righthander Josh Beckett definitely has them simmering.

Beckett went to the mound for the sixth inning of Friday night's 10-3 Yankees victory at Fenway Park with the Sox trailing 3-1. Before the inning was complete he had most of the Bombers standing on the top step of the third base dugout sho...

Phil Hughes' locker in the Yankee clubhouse has been close to CC Sabathia's since the new Stadium opened and Hughes has watched how Sabathia prepares for starts - how the smile rarely leaves the big lefty's face, how Sabathia sometimes sits schmoozing and laughing with clubhouse workers before ambling off to the trainer's room.

Sabathia exudes pure relaxation on the days he starts, something Hughes admired. Earlier in his career, similar ease eluded Hughes when he was "...