[MJHMarc]

Originally Posted by MLB.COM

Yankees starter Andy Pettitte owns a ranch in south Texas, just like his friend Josh Beckett, who hails from Spring, Texas. The two Texans round out the top five of American League ERA leaders. But they've been less successful finding common ground among the cattle and chaparral in their shared home state.

"We haven't had a chance to [visit in Texas]," said Pettitte, who played high school baseball at Texas' Deer Park High. "We've tried to hook up with each other, be in contact with one another. But it's a little too difficult in the offseason. It's pretty busy."

On Sunday at 8:05 p.m. ET, Pettitte and Beckett will share the same mound nearly 2,000 miles away from home, for Game 3 of a hotly contested Red Sox-Yankees series. Now 34 years old and with 189 career wins to his credit, Pettitte has come a long way from Deer Park to Fenway Park. He's come a long way even from Houston, where he spent three seasons with the Astros, to re-engage in the blood feud of the Red Sox rivalry as a repeat Yankee.

Pitching at Fenway, where Pettitte has a 2.92 career ERA but 1.41 walks and hits yielded per inning, is never easy, not least for Red Sox opponents.

"They're a tough lineup," Pettitte said. "They've got great hitters up and down their lineup. They've got guys that are hot up and down their lineup. You just try to make as good pitches as you can."

"It's always a little more mentally grinding facing Boston," he said. "But they're all a grind, right now, the way that this year's going."

Yankees Coverage
• Moose frustrated after subpar outing
• Clemens scratched from start
• Singer: Mission aborted for Rocket
• Mientkiewicz suffers concussion
• Pettitte ready to tackle tough Sox lineup
• Notes: No suspension for Proctor


Red Sox Coverage
• Lowell powers Sox past Yankees
• Youkilis' hitting streak ends
• Beckett looks to continue perfection
• Notes: Drew rests ailing hamstring

Season SeriesBoston leads 7-4

• 6/2: Red Sox 11, Yankees 6
• 6/1: Yankees 9, Red Sox 5

Previous season series
• 2006: Yankees 11, Red Sox 8
• 2005: Yankees 10, Red Sox 9
• 2004: Red Sox 11, Yankees 8


Pitching matchup
NYY: LHP Andy Pettitte (3-4, 2.51 ERA)
Pettitte's worst performance of the season came against Kevin Youkilis and the Red Sox on April 27, when he allowed five earned runs and 11 baserunners in 4 2/3 innings. Were it not for that line, Pettitte would have a 2.01 ERA in 71 2/3 innings for the season, second best in the league.

BOS: RHP Josh Beckett (8-0, 2.65 ERA)
It's not 2003 anymore. Beckett has been through plenty since his dominant World Series Game 6 performance against the Yankees. Relocated from Florida to Boston in 2006, where Beckett was hammered by New York, Beckett has rediscovered the subtleties of pitching and rolled off eight straight wins to start the 2007 season. In his first start against the Yankees this year, Beckett allowed a season-high four earned runs in 6 2/3 innings, but still won the game.

Player to watch
Beckett has not fooled red-hot Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, who is 6-for-11 with a home run against the right-hander.

The game starts at 8.05PM (EST) on ESPN. Be there!

[MVB]

Yankee lineup:

Damon DH
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Posada C
Matsui LF
Cano 2B
Phelps 1B
Cabrera CF

It's not raining in Boston now, but the forecast is pretty bad. The two teams really want to get this game in though, since they don't meet again until August 28th. The Sox head to Oakland tomorrow while the Yankees are off to Chicago.

[simple simon]

here we go 5 mins to game time

i suppose if the Yankees could manage to win this one it would be huge for them ........... taking 2 of 3 from Boston and beating Beckett

but we all know that isnt about to happen

[LSC9901]

Not sure everyone knows it but you and I do !!!!!

[LSC9901]

Did I read somewhere that Peter Gammons is ill ??

[simple simon]

who can make the All-Star game for these teams ?

for Boston i see Beckett, Okajima, Papelbon and Youkilis ...... also i think Coco Crisp has been a Gold Glove outfielder so far this year ...... no one else has had an All-Star year yet i dont think, which makes the team even more deadly in my mind

what about the Yankees ?

Jeter has 11 errors so far is that All-Star worthy ?

[Lefty Noob]

Whew... just got here. Glad to see I haven't missed the first pitch.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Did I read somewhere that Peter Gammons is ill ??

i havent heard that ........ i believe they said he is here at the ballpark, of course he lives in Mass. when he isnt on the road

[Gotham Dark Knight]

I am signed up to do the color commentary.

Did you know Yaz had 141 more doubles for the Red Sox than Ted Williams?

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Whew... just got here. Glad to see I haven't missed the first pitch.

ok Lefty .......... LSC and i are for Boston of course ............ MVB is for NY ........ who are you for ?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Also Roger Clemens and Cy Young are both tied for most Red Sox shutouts in lifetime at 38.

There is no truth to the sudden rumor that Clemens wants to come back to Boston to take the record away from Cy.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

I am signed up to do the color commentary.

Did you know Yaz had 141 more doubles for the Red Sox than Ted Williams?

i saw a game where Yaz caught a fly to center and hit the wall ......... while laying on the ground almost unconsious he never lost the ball ............... Yaz is an all-time great

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

There is no truth to the sudden rumor that Clemens wants to come back to Boston to take the record away from Cy.

NY can have Clemens ...... Lester is pitching better then him

[bears9]

i promised myself i wouldnt watch but im filping channels just to talk to u guys

[LSC9901]

Wahooooooo