"Won't Get (Swept) Again"-5 Reasons the Yankees will defeat Boston

Back in May, the Yankees were embarrassed by the Red Sox, who swept both of the opening series.

However, since then the Yankees have caught fire and actually leapfrogged said Boston team and currently sit a game up on them in the lead of the American League East.

Here are five reasons why the Yankees won't get swept again.

1. A-Rod's Return

Alex Rodriguez was still out with his hip injury the first two times these teams met.

He's hitting .248 with eight home runs and 23 RBI thus far in the season—not bad numbers for having missed the first month of the season.

A-Rod's return will obviously force the Red Sox to deal with his bat and glove. But the bigger thing A-Rod brings to the table...

2. Teixeira's Protection in the Lineup

A-Rod's biggest addition to the Yankees has been the protection he provides to Mark Teixeira in the lineup.

Teixeira had an atrocious May, but since A-Rod's return, he has found his bat. He has an AL best 18 home runs and 51 RBI.

His newfound bat should prove extremely helpful for the Yankees this time against the Red Sox.

3. Late Game Heroics

One, five, three, two, and four.

Those are the margins of defeat in the Yankees-Red Sox games this season. Since the last time these two teams met, the Yankees have discovered a knack for late game heroics, no one more so than Melky Cabrera.

A majority of his 23 RBI have come after the seventh inning. The Yankees have made it so they are never out of the game until the final out is recorded.

4. Starting Pitching

In this Boston series, the Red Sox will face A.J. Burnett, Chien-Ming Wang, and C.C. Sabathia. While Wang's productivity is a bit suspect, Burnett and Sabathia have been consistent over their past few starts.

Sabathia comes in at 5-3 with a 3.56 ERA and 61 strikeouts.

What might be the difference is that Sabathia should be able to give the much-maligned Yankee bullpen a rest with his ability to go all nine innings. He's done it twice this year.

If Sabathia goes the distance, the Yankees will have a stronger chance at beating the Red Sox.

5. Momentum

Momentum for the Yankees will be huge in this installment of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. New York is in first place with only a game lead on Boston.

However, the Yankees are coming off of a month that saw them have an 18-game errorless streak, which surpassed Boston's old record by one game.

The Yankees also just took two of three from Texas and Tampa Bay. If they can do the same against Boston, this series will be a success for New York.