The Boston Red Sox may be leading the AL East, but the New York Yankees are not ready to thrown in the towel just yet. Prior to Friday's win, the Yankees had dropped six of their first nine games with their rival team this season. However, Friday was a different story as Alfonso Soriano blasted a three-run home run as New York took the win, 10-3. Can the Yankees keep the momentum?

The Yankees are still contending for a Wild Card spot as they sit fourth in the East. New York has won six of their last eight, 7 1/2 games behind the leading Red Sox. Soriano has been the primary reason behind the offensive surge. He has gone 13 for 18 with five home runs and 18 RBI in the last four games. Not a bad stat line. 

If there is a pitcher that can slow the Yankees down, it is Hiroki Kuroda. The pitcher is 11-7 on the season with a 2.33 ERA. In his last seven starts, he is 4-1 with a 0.94 ERA, ranking him second in the AL. In his start against the Red Sox this season back in July, Kuroda allowed two runs in seven innings in the win. He is 1-2 against Boston this season.

John Lackey takes the mound for the Red Sox. He is 7-10 with a 3.32 ERA this season. Lackey is not that hot right now, He is coming off a 0-4 stretch with a 4.96 ERA. He has dropped his last two consecutive starts after giving up four runs to the Kansas City Royals. 

Boston has lost its last four of five games, leaving 47 runners stranded in that stretch. David Ortiz is 4 for 24 in his last six games.

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