Yankee Talk: Good times keep rolling

Joba’s strong for six, Yanks hammer Lester, Sawx


NEW YORK – Both the Yankees and Red Sox are virtual locks to make the postseason, so this series has been devalued into nothing more than a dress rehearsal for October.

In the interim, there were two signs coming out of last night’s performance that serve as good omens for the future in the Yankees 9-5 win over Boston in front of 48,449 at Yankee Stadium.

The offense for the first time this season was able break through against Red Sox starter Jon Lester. Not only break through, but nearly break him as well.

Last thing either of these teams want to have is a serious injury and what in are essentially, meaningless games as both teams are going to clinch playoff berths in the coming days.

The Yankees quickly jumped on top in the bottom of the first inning when Alex Rodriguez singled home Derek Jeter on a base hit to left Lester was able to work out of further trouble by striking out Jorge Posada to conclude a 31 pitch frame.

In third, Rodriguez crushed a 1-1 fastball to the second deck in the left for his 29th home run and a 3-0 lead. They would loaded the bases later in the inning and on a 1-0 pitch, Melky Cabrera hit a liner that banged off the right knee of the Boston left-hander and he collapsed to the ground in pain and laid there in pain for several minutes as Cabrera reached, Matsui scored and the lead extended to four.

Lester was helped up by the training staff, needing help all the way back to the locker room. X-Rays would later show he suffered a bruise to right quad, but expects to make his next start.

With the score 4-1 in the fourth, Boston get its first hit of the night when Victor Martinez hit a 2-0 fastball into the Yankee bullpen. The Yankees got the run back when Jorge Posada’s RBI single scored Rodriguez from third. Chamberlain would work himself into trouble in the fifth inning when the Red Sox got the first two runners on when Jason Bay singled and JD Drew doubled. The enigmatic Yankee right-hander settled down and was able to keep Boston off the scoreboard. Jason Varitek popped out. Alex Gonzalez struck out, and Jacoby Ellsbury grounded to second to end the threat and keep the lead at 5-1.

David Ortiz’s two-run homer in the sixth brought the Red Sox to within 5-3, but nothing more after that. In six innings, Chamberlain allow just three runs and five hits, walking one and striking out five, making a strong statement for his cause to the part of the Yankees postseason rotation.

Prior to tonight, in his last 11 starts Chamberlain was winless with an ERA of 8.42, as the team took measures to restrict his innings by shortening his outings and giving him extra rest leading perhaps to lackluster performance.

Rodriguez would get his third hit and reached for the fourth time with an RBI double to right center that scored Johnny Damon. Jorge Posada would then single home two more runs and the lead grew to 8-3.

Every hitter in the lineup had at least one hit except for Nick Swisher (0 for 4). Rodriguez was 3 for 3 with two walks and four runs batted in.

A combination of five Yankee relievers nailed down the final nine outs. Alfredo Aceves pitched a scoreless seventh. Jonathan Albaladejo started the eighth and eventually allowed an RBI single to Kevin Youkilis. Damaso Marte and Phil Hughes finished the eighth and Phil Coke set down the Red Sox in order in the ninth.

The Yankees magic number is down to four and could clinch the AL East with two more wins over Boston this weekend.

CC Sabathia gets the ball for the Yankees and Daisuke Matzusaka starts for Boston.