Granderson's two homers help keep Yankees tied for first

BOSTON -- Every game, every run counts at this time of year.

That's why the New York Yankees were breathing a sigh of relief after taking the middle game of their three-game set against the Boston Red Sox 5-4 at Fenway Park on Wednesday night. New York maintained a tie for first place in the American League East with the Baltimore Orioles, who beat the Tampa Bay Rays.

"It's playoff baseball," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "You're playing in the playoffs right now. That's the way it is for us.

"We just need to worry about ourselves. Need to play good baseball and win games."

Curtis Granderson led the New York offense with two home runs, giving him 37 this season. It was his second multi-homer game this year, with the other a three-homer game April 19 against the Twins.

Boston catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia reached base in all four plate appearances, falling a single shy of the cycle. He returned to the lineup for the first time since Friday, as he'd been sidelined by back spasms.

"Salty had a couple of days off, and his back was a little tight after he hit the triple (in the fifth inning), but he stayed in there and played great," Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said. "I think Salty's had a really good year for us this year, totally unappreciated by some, but did a very good job tonight and for most of the season. A walk, double, triple and homer. That's pretty good."

The Yankees sent eight batters to the plate in the fourth, with three scoring. Granderson opened the inning with a solo home run off Red Sox starter Aaron Cook. After Alex Rodriguez singled, Robinson Cano homered, his 30th of the season, giving the Yankees a 3-0 lead.

The Red Sox got a run back in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Dustin Pedroia doubled to center off Yankees right-hander David Phelps for Boston's first hit of the game. James Loney drove Pedroia in with a single to right, cutting the deficit to 3-1.

The Yankees added two runs in the seventh. With Alfredo Aceves pitching for Boston, Granderson hit his second home run of the game, scoring Derek Jeter, who singled to lead off the seventh, giving the Yankees a 5-1 lead.

Jeter grounded into a double play to end the eighth and came out of the game after that. Girardi said Jeter has been dealing with a bone bruise near his left ankle for several weeks, but he expects the veteran to play in the series finale Thursday.

"It's not a thing," Jeter said. "Players don't talk about their injuries. I'm fine. I tried to stay in, but Joe thought I should come out. I don't talk about injuries. You either play or you don't. I'm playing."

The Sox scored two runs in the seventh, as the Yankees used three pitchers in the inning.

Right-hander Cody Eppley began the inning, getting Cody Ross to strike out before giving up a double to Saltalamacchia. Left-hander Boone Logan entered to face switch-hitting Daniel Nava, who doubled off the wall in center field, with Saltalamacchia stopping at third. Right-hander Joba Chamberlain entered, giving up a run-scoring groundout to pinch hitter Mauro Gomez and a double to pinch hitter Mike Aviles, scoring Nava. Chamberlain got Jacoby Ellsbury to ground out to end the inning with the Yankees leading 5-3.

Saltalamacchia led off the ninth with a home run to close the gap to one run, but that was all Boston would get. With two outs, Aviles reached on an error by New York closer Rafael Soriano, bringing up Ellsbury, who was the hero Tuesday night with a walk-off single. This time, Ellsbury grounded out to Soriano, ending the game.

"Guys were battling the whole time," Valentine said. "He hit the ball real good. It just wound up in his glove."

Phelps earned the win, improving to 4-4 with a 3.42 ERA. He went 5 2/3 innings, giving up one run on five hits and a walk with five strikeouts.

"He was aggressive, mostly fastball, curveball. The kid can pitch," Girardi said. "We've loved the job that he's done, and today was a big start for us."

Soriano earned his 37th save.

Cook took the loss for Boston, falling to 3-10 with a 5.18 ERA. He went five-plus innings, giving up three runs on seven hits with no walks, two strikeouts and two home runs.

"I felt like I was getting in a good rhythm with Salty," Cook said. "I made two bad pitches and ended up paying for it."

NOTES: Even after going 0-for-4, Boston's Pedro Ciriaco is batting .436 (17-for-39) with seven RBI, 11 runs and four stolen bases in nine career games against the Yankees, all this year. Of his 13 multi-hit games this season, five have come against the Yankees. ... Red Sox right-hander Scott Atchison, who had been on the disabled list since July 14 with right forearm tightness, was activated before the game. ... The Red Sox will honor Johnny Pesky with a celebration of his life after the game on Sept. 23 at Fenway Park. The tribute will begin at 6 p.m. and is open to the public. ... Red Sox radio broadcaster Joe Castiglione was honored before Wednesday's game for his 30 years of service. ... The Yankees' Eric Chavez hit two doubles in his two at-bats, giving him 301 for his career. ... Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte threw 35 pitches in a simulated game Wednesday afternoon at Fenway Park, and he may be cleared to pitch in a game next week. He has been sidelined since fracturing his left ankle on June 27. ... New York's David Robertson took the loss Tuesday night, his seventh of the season, the most by a Yankees reliever since Jeff Nelson went 3-7 in 77 games in 1997. ... The Yankees haven't earned consecutive wins in 25 games since Aug. 15, their longest stretch since a 31-game streak from Aug. 20-Sept. 22, 1991, in which they went 9-22. They are 10-15 during the current streak. ... The Red Sox have lost 12 of their last 14 games. They are 2-6 against the Yankees at Fenway Park this season. ... The Yankees improved to 9-5 against the Red Sox this season and have won 13 of the last 20 games between the teams going back to Aug. 30, 2011.