Free-falling of late in the American League East standings, the Red Sox badly want to stop their slide on Wednesday night when they face the Yankees in the second of a three-game series.

The Sox were manhandled by the Yankees in the opener, committing three errors in a 11-3 loss. They enter this contest a season-high 6 1/2 games behind the Yankees in the division.

"We've got to regroup tomorrow, period," said Sox catcher Jason Varitek.

Veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield hopes to have his knuckleball dancing in his first Yankee Stadium appearance since Aaron Boone took him deep to end Game 7 of the American League Championship Series. Wakefield baffled the Yankees in an April 16 start at Fenway Park.

As for the AL East race, the tables have turned in a big way over the last two months. The Sox actually led the Yankees by 4 1/2 games after completing a three-game Bronx sweep on April 25.

After losing six of their first seven head-to-head meetings against the Sox, the Yankees were glad to exact some revenge on Tuesday night.

"This was a big win for us, because the last time we saw these guys, they treated us badly," said Yankees manager Joe Torre.

Not only have the Yankees turned their season around, but the Sox aren't playing with the same swagger and crispness they did earlier in the season. Red Sox manager Terry Francona remains confident that he has the horses to snap out of this inconsistent spell, which has seen the Sox produce a 27-27 record since May 1.

"If I'm any judge of talent, I think we'll be fantastic," said Francona. "I love these guys. I think we're going to find a way to be a very good team. I also think we have to improve. I think we're going to do that. I believe that and that's what we're going to do."

Sox leadoff man Johnny Damon says his team has not reached the point of deflation.

"Our character is in good shape here. We plan to come out here and win [Wednesday] night," said Damon. "[Tuesday] was an off night for us. But we're ready to strap it on again and try to get a win."