Start Spreadin' the News

On June 11, 2009, the New York Yankees left Fenway Park having not figured out their rivals in 8 straight tries - watching the Red Sox celebrate 8 consecutive wins over the Yankees, making them the laughing stock of the MLB. Even the Mets found a way to beat Boston, and they only had three opportunities.

On September 27, 2009, the New York Yankees celebrated for the first time on the pitcher's mound of the new Yankee Stadium, having swept Boston for the second consecutive series in the Boogie Down - winning their 9th game against Boston in 10 tries since 0-8 - but more importantly, claiming a divisional championship and solidifying home-field advantage throughout the post-season.

Throughout April, May, and June, and until the two teams' fourth series on August 6th at Yankee Stadium, the word throughout baseball was that the Yankees couldn't beat the Red Sox, that the Yankees wouldn't beat the Red Sox. The Yankees have gone out and spent so much money on Sabathia, and Burnett, and Teixeira, and can't even beat Boston once.

How quickly all that changed.

August 6th was the turning point, as the Yankees and Red Sox squared off in a 4 game series at the new Yankee Stadium - a series that New York would eventually sweep, thanks to solid pitching and timely hitting. From the A-Rod homerun in the bottom of the 15th off Tazawa -- wait -- A-Rod...clutch?! That has been an oxymoron until recently. Saturday afternoon, CC Sabathia makes quick work of the Sox, shutting them out for what would be his first of two scoreless performances against Boston in '09.Then the Sunday night game that solidified the sweep. Let's recap, shall we? A-Rod homerun bottom of the 7th to crack a scoreless tie. 1-0 Yanks. Victor Martinez 2-run homerun in the top of the 8th off reliever Phil Coke, who ironically had been brought in to flip Victor Martinez around to face the bigger part of the ballpark. Sox up 2-1. 2 outs Bottom 8, flame-throwing reliever Daniel Bard on the hill. After making the number 9 hitter and Derek Jeter look absolutely comical against his fastball, Johnny Damon sends a Johnny Rocket over the right-centerfield wall, promptly followed by a Mark Teixeira "Tex" Message into the 3rd deck down the rightfield line.

Had the Magic returned to the Bronx? Had "Mystique" and "Ora" emerged from the shadows to show their lovely faces for the first time in the new digs? It certainly appeared so.

From 0-8 to 4-8.

Let's head to Fenway Park, two weekends following the Boston Massacre of '09. The first two games couldn't have been uglier, the Yankees bludgeoning Boston in Game one 20-11 (yes, this was a baseball game) and the Sox returning the favor on Saturday (against A.J. Burnett, who has had quite a fun time at Fenway this season) beating the Yankees 14-1. Then the Sunday night game during which the Yankees sent 5 homeruns off Josh Beckett flying around Beantown - winning the series 2 games to one.

From 4-8 to 6-9

Then this past weekend. It was a series without much contest. The Yankees solidified themselves as kings of the American League east, winning 9-5 Friday night behind Joba Chamberlain, 3-0 Saturday afternoon behind CC Sabathia, and 4-2 Sunday afternoon behind Andy Pettitte. The Yankees, with the weekend sweep of the Sox have become a 100-win team, winning 100 games for the for the 4th time this decade ('02, '03, '04, '09).

So it is the Yankees went from 0-8 to 9-9 against the Red Sox when most people doubted them off the face of the earth. With the recent weekend sweep, the Yankees have gone 9-1 against the Sox in their last 10 games.