The New York Yankees (81-52) are now tied with the Boston Red Sox (82-52) for first place in the American League East, thanks to a 5-2 victory over their arch-rivals on Tuesday night. Leading the way for the Bombers were battery mates C.C. Sabathia and Francisco Cervelli.

Sabathia was the bigger story, as the ace-lefty was able to solve the Sox for the first time in five tries this season. C.C. was able to sit down 10 Boston batters in six innings, as the victory helped the Yankees pick up their third victory in 13 games against Boston.

As for Cervelli, he continues to provide the Bombers with clutch hits on the nights he catches. On this night Francisco hit a huge homer (2) in the top of the fifth that gave the Bombers the 4-2 lead at the time.

What seemed like a rivalry that was dead, was renewed on this night as sparks filed in the bottom of the seventh and ninth innings.

In the seventh things started to get tense after Cervelli was hit in the back by a pitch. That hit sparked a bench-clearing stare-down. Sparks continued in the bottom of the ninth, as it had seemed as if Jarrod Saltalmacchia was hit by a Mariano Rivera pitch.

After review though, it had seemed as if ‘Salty’ swung on the pitch before he was hit, and according to the rules of MLB-the swing supersedes anything else that may happen.  As always the calm and collected Rivera recorded the outs necessary, for his 35^th save.

The rivalry, as well as the race for first place continues on Wednesday; as Phil Hughes (4-4, 6.46 ERA) takes on Red Sox-ace Josh Beckett (11-5, 2.43 ERA).  The first pitch for Game Two is slated for 7:10 p.m.