It looked like A-Rod would be a hero again. Daisuke Matsuzaka stymied the Yankees until the seventh with a very low pitch count. With Teixeira on first, A-Rod came to bat against Dice-K with an .095 batting average against him. Matsuzaka got him to 0-2 but then left a fast ball low and out over the plate. A-Rod delivered a two run home run to right center to put the Yankees ahead 2-1.

Phil Hughes was reinstated as the Yankee starter after being pushed ahead to next Wednesday in favor of Dustin Moseley. Hughes was great into the seventh allowing only one run. Bill Hall blooped a fly ball to right which Swisher charged and dove for but it fell under his glove and behind him for a double. Swisher is clearly not running well on his injured knee. Hall would eventually score on an RBI single from Victor Martinez.

Hughes walked the first two batters he faced in the seventh but David Robertson was able to get out of the inning after both runners were sacrificed. He got a key strike out for the second out and then retired the last batter.

Kerry Wood took over in the eighth and gave up a hit but walked David Ortiz intentionally with the tying run on second. Rivera was called with two outs and two on in the eighth and retired Adrian Beltre to end the inning.

The Yankees could not add any insurance for Mo and he faced the ninth with the opportunity to save the game and clinch at worst a tie for a playoff spot. Jed Lowrie's fly ball to deep right was held up by the wind and Swisher caught in on the warning track for the first out. Ryan Kalish singled up the middle and then was able to steal second and third with only one out. With the infield in, Bill Hall grounded a single past A-Rod and the score was tied. Hall then proceeded to steal second and third and scored on a sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Mike Lowell to put the Red Sox ahead at 3-2. Rivera then retired Marco Scutaro on a fly ball to center.

It was now Jonathan Papelbon's turn for the save and he was not much better. Jeter led off by flying out. Swisher then battled and lined a single to right. Texeira followed with a single and A-Rod had a chance to be the hero again. A-Rod walked to load the bases and Cano hit a sharp single to right to tie the score. The ball was hit too hard and only one run was able to score. However, Posada then struck out and Berkman was retired and the scored was tied at 3-3 heading to the tenth.

Joba Chamberlain was able to retire the Sox in order and the Yankees had their chance. Hideki Okajima was brought on and Curtis Granderson led off with a single to right field. Brett Gardner bunted and the throw from catcher Victor Martinez hit Gardner in the back. The Yankees were set up with runners on first and third and no outs. Jeter was walked intentionally and then Marcus Thames pinch hit for Greg Golson who had replaced Swisher in right field. Thames hit a hard ground shot to third which Beltre was able to catch and force Granderson at home. Juan Miranda was the next to pinch hit, replacing Nunez who had pinch run for Teixeira previously. Okajima walked him with the bases loaded and the Yankees won the game 4-3.

For Rivera, it was his 5th blown save in 37 save opportunities on the season and his third in the month of September. With the two runs allowed in 1 1/3 innings his season ERA now stands at 1.85.

The magic number to clinch a playoff spot in now at one. Another Yankee win or a Red Sox loss and the Yankees clinch. Tampa Bay lost so the Yankees are only one half game out of the AL East lead. The Yankees now go to Toronto for a three game series and the Red Sox go to Chicago for four. Next weekend both teams conclude the regular season with a three game series at Fenway Park in Boston.

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