The New York Yankees got a great starter from AJ Burnett in the first game of their day-night doubleheader as they used some small ball and power from their veteran players to defeat the struggling Red Sox 6-2.

Did this start make the case for AJ Burnett to claim the third playoff rotation spot?

AJ Burnett for the first time as a member of the Yankees finally did something he was signed to do, and that was beat the Boston Red Sox. He did that for the first time on Sunday as he went 7 2/3 innings giving up 5 hits, 2 runs, walked two, and struck out 6. The two runs came from two Jacoby Ellsbury solo home runs. In fact, Ellsbury accounted for 3 out of the 5 Red Sox hits in the game.

While this was a great step in the right direction for Burnett, you have to keep in mind this start was against a team that has been on what may end up being a historical slump. So this start has to be taken with the competitiveness of the opponent in question. But mentally, this is what Burnett needs as a building block to work off of for the playoffs.

Personally, Freddy Garcia would be a better suitor for the third playoff spot since he has a more veteran presence on the mound and is more consistent than Burnett. But this start for Burnett is certainly a step in the right direction.

Derek Jeter in this game went 3-4 with two runs scored an an RBI. Jorge Posada had the big hit in the game, a 2-run shot in the third inning.

The Yankees and Red Sox finish the doubleheader tonight as the Red Sox send out John Lackey and the Yankees will counter with Ivan Nova as he will try for his 17th win of the season.

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