Four Real? Pineda's Pine Tar and Ellsbury in a Yanks Uni Sink Red Sox 4-11-14 (VIDEO)

Michael Pineda used his talent, and pine tar, to beat the Red Sox on Thursday night.

Bronx, NY- Two strange sights occurred in New York Thursday night. One, Jacoby Ellsbury led off the game in a Yankees uniform. Two, Michael Pineda covered his right arm in pine tar. While both would seem illegal last year, neither was convicted and both helped contribute to New York's win on Thursday night. Pineda pitched a gem, and while Clay Buchholz looked to match him for most of the game, a key play helped sink Clay's efforts.  Here are the four at bats that changed the game:

1) Bottom of the fourth inning, and the Yankees strike first. Jacoby Ellsbury hits a slow roller to third that Jon Herrera makes a mistake on, and it causes the first batter to reach. Carlos Beltran singles to right field and Brian McCann follows with a single down the right field line on a 2-1 pitch that scores Ellsbury. Buchholz got Alfonso Soriano to double into a double play, which scored a run, but the damage was already done. Yankees take the 2-0 lead.

2) Top of the fifth inning, and Pineda is dealing. He has yet to give up a hit, and all of his stuff is hard and nasty. Thankfully, rookie Xander Bogaerts takes a 1-2 slider to left for the first hit of the night for Boston. They could not score Bogaerts, but at least the Sox put a hit on the board. 2-0 Yankees.

3) Bottom of the fifth, and New York is up 3-0. With two outs in the inning, Derek Jeter spanks a ground rule double to center field. Ellsbury follows up with a single to left field. Grady Sizemore fires home to try for Jeter, but his throw is cut off and Ellsbury is nailed at second. The run counts, and the inning is over. 4-0 Yankees.

4) Top of the seventh inning, and the slumping Daniel Nava avoids a Boston shutout with a long homerun over the short porch in right field. The long ball helps end Pineda's night and gives Boston a chance to get to the weak Yankees bullpen.

Unfortunately, the Red Sox coudn't touch New York's pen either, as all nine batters they faced were retired. The game ends 4-1 in favor of the Evil Empire. Tomorrow, Jon Lester faces CC Sabathia at 7:05pm at Yankee Stadium. Should be a good one!

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