By Sean McAdam
CSNNE.com Red Sox InsiderFollow @sean_mcadam
NEW YORK -- Two days off in a row didn't help. Neither did a reshuffled lineup.
The Red Sox Saturday were just as bad as they've been all month, suffering a 9-1 drubbing by the New York Yankees, their 17th loss in 22 games in September.
The setback was the sixth in the last seven games and did nothing to reduce their magic number to clinch the American League wild card spot.
Jon Lester was shelled for eight runs on eight hits in just 2 23 innings. It was Lester's third straight loss and marked the 10th time in the last 22 games that a Red Sox starter failed to get through five innings.
Lester was victimized by some poor defensive support, with shortstop Marco Scutaro throwing to the wrong base on a force play and a poor read on a sinking liner by Carl Crawford.
But Lester then gave up a three-run opposite-field homer to Derek Jeter. A two-run double by Jesus Montero in the third inning forced the lefty from the game.
The lone Red Sox run came in the seventh when Crawford doubled to left, scoring pinch-hitter Conor Jackson who had singled. Crawford was elevated to second in the order, but had just one-hit in four at-bats.
Boston Red Sox
Sean McAdam can be reached at smcadam@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Sean on Twitter at http:twitter.comsean_mcadam