Freefall continues: Sox lose Game 1

NEW YORK -- The Red Sox continued their September swoon, suffering a 6-2 loss to the Yankees that left the team clinging to a half-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the wild card, after the Rays beat Toronto, 5-2.

The Sox trailed from the outset, as starter Tim Wakefield -- in what may have been the final start of his career -- allowed a pair of runs in the first that featured a savage little-ball attack from the Yankees. New York collected a pair of bunt singles, stole a pair of bases and took advantage of a passed ball, wild pitch and error by catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia to claim an early advantage. Jorge Posada added a two-run homer in the third off of Wakefield, who allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits and five walks in four-plus innings.

The Sox, meanwhile, could manage little against Yankees starter A.J. Burnett. Aside from a pair of solo homers by Jacoby Ellsbury (giving the outfielder 30 homers, which in turn made him the first player in Sox history to reach 30 homers and 30 steals in the same season), the Sox failed to do any damage, as Burnett pitched 7 2/3 innings while allowing two runs.

The Sox saw their record drop to 5-18 this month, and their lead in the wild card race become ever more precarious.

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