"A.J. Burnett and his uneven season has been a skull-splitter for Yankee brass all year. Now, for a change, Burnett is hoping he has given Joe Girardi what the pitcher described as "a good headache."

One day after Freddy Garcia had a boffo audition, Burnett was superb Sunday against the desperate Red Sox in the opener of a day-night doubleheader at the Stadium, giving Girardi plenty to think about when the manager constructs the postseason rotation beyond CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova.

Before Sunday, Burnett had been winless against Boston as a Yankee, but he was the star of a 6-2 victory in Game 1, allowing only two runs and five hits in 7-2/3 innings. He got a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 49,541 as he left the mound and waved his glove at fans as he headed for the dugout."