Designated hitter David Ortiz warned a month ago that he wasn't likely to forget about the Yankees, and Big Papi expected to hear from them before all was said and done.

Well, the Yanks roll into Fenway on Friday night just three games behind the Red Sox (and the Rays) in the AL East standings.

Ring the bells and sound the alarms. The Yankees are coming, and they're riding a six-game winning streak.

"I like this rivalry. I think it's good," third baseman Mike Lowell said. "It adds a little spice to the season.

"There are still a lot of games left and we still have a chance to do some pretty good things this year. Hopefully we can get our guys back and get back into the routine of the season that we're used to."

Left for dead in a first-half race in the AL East between the Red Sox and the scrappy Tampa Bay Rays, the Bronx Bombers are winning games and breathing down the necks of the Rays and the Sox.

Alex Rodriguez, Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi have been the key names at the heart of the Yanks offense this season, and old friend Johnny Damon plans on returning to left field in time for the weekend series.

Yankees closer Mariano Riviera continues to crank out saves while marching in at the back end of New York's bullpen, but the starting rotation has a different look.

Veteran lefty Andy Pettitte takes the hill Saturday, and reclamation project Sidney Ponson -- who has put together a 6-1 season with a 4.02 ERA -- pitches Sunday's finale.

But all eyes will be on 22-year-old righty Joba Chamberlain, who has made a stunning transformation from rocket-armed setup man to potential young ace in the making, as he steps up to face Sox ace Josh Beckett in a Friday night showdown.

It doesn't feel like a true baseball season until the Sox and Yankees tangle in a statement-type series, and that's exactly what's on tap.

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