Top > Sport > 2006 > September > 2006-09-18

With Red Sox out of race, Yankees rivalry still alive

The Yankees host the Red Sox this weekend for yet another series in perhaps the greatest rivalry in sports. Although the Yankees lead the AL East by 11.5 games, are focused on clinching the division title and are celebrating the return of power hitter Hideki Matsui who broke his left wrist in May, the Red Sox are practically out of the race for either division title or wild card, have no meaningful games to play this month and are missing power hitter Manny Ramirez, out with patellar tendinitis in his right knee. Still, this series offers us exciting moments.

The Red Sox won the opener Saturday, 5-2, but the Yankees won the nightcap, 7-5, splitting the double-header. The outcome of the games mattered little to the Red Sox, but brought the Yankees a step closer to playoff berth. The Yankees can clinch the AL East with a sweep in Sunday?s doubleheader and a loss by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Attention was directed this time to the MVP race between Derek Jeter and David Ortiz, competing for the award both on and off the field. Both players advanced their cause. Derek Jeter had a single in both games, extending his hitting streak to 25 games, the longest by a Yankee since 1942. Ortiz reached base in all five plate appearances in the first game. He doubled twice and drew three walks. Ortiz suggested last weekend that Jeter should not win the MVP, and the fans booed Ortiz, chanting Jeter?s name when Ortiz was at bat. ?It makes you feel good," Jeter said. "But the bottom line is we?re still trying to win games.? They are.