ESPN did a nice job of highlighting the changes in Curtis Granderson‘s stance this season as he hit his 13th home run of the season in the second inning. I would also point out that the pitch was a fastball, and right in the spot, just to the outside part of the plate where Granderson likes to make contact for the long ball. I noted in that post that Curtis is connecting on a higher percentage of fastballs than in the past, and I suspect the new stance allows him to get to the ball quicker. He doesn’t need to wait for a mistake on an off-speed pitch. Pitchers might want to start avoiding fastballs on the outer half of the plate when pitching to Curtis.

The home run came off southpaw Jon Lester, and six of Curtis’s 13 home runs came against left-handers this season.

The Yankees lead the Red Sox 4-1 in the top of the third inning.

Update: Youkilis hit a three-run homer in the top of the third to tie the game. Russell Martin was set up outside, but the pitch from Freddy Garcia trailed back over the plate.