It's a month later and the circumstances are certainly different, but the Yankees and Red Sox will kick off another series with a doubleheader on Saturday.
The five-game sweep in Boston began with the Yankees taking both ends behind 26 runs of offense and a solid outing by Chien-Ming Wang. Wang allowed three runs over six innings to start the series.
While New York holds an 11 1/2-game lead in the American League East over Boston, the Yankees don't feel baseball's best rivalry has lost its sizzle.
"The uniform is what really more so creates the intensity, rather than the players wearing them right now," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "It's still important. It's very important for us to keep doing what we're doing. The significance of this four-game series isn't the same as the significance of the five-game series."
Wang was originally supposed to pitch Thursday, but was moved to Friday because Torre didn't want to risk his health on a wet mound. Wang didn't warm up Friday and just played catch Thursday so he said he felt fine to pitch on Saturday.
"If anybody can handle [being pushed back], it would be him," Torre said Thursday.
Randy Johnson will pitch for the Yankees in the second game. The Big Unit is 2-1 with a 6.89 ERA in three starts against Boston this season.
Pitching matchup
Game 1
BOS: RHP Josh Beckett (14-10, 5.09 ERA)
Beckett allowed nine earned runs in 5 2/3 innings in his last meeting with the Yankees on Aug. 19.
NYY: RHP Chien-Ming Wang (17-5, 3.60 ERA)
Wang has won nine of his past 10 decisions.
Game 2
BOS: RHP Julian Tavarez (3-4, 4.74 ERA)
Tavarez has pitched five times against the Yankees, tossing 7 1/3 scoreless innings, but hasn't started against them this season.
NYY: LHP Randy Johnson (17-10, 4.84 ERA)
Johnson allowed five earned runs in six innings against Baltimore in his last start.
Player to watch
Johnny Damon was 10-for-23 with two home runs and eight RBIs in the Yankees' five-game sweep of Boston.
