Get ready for tonight’s Sox-Yanks tilt with some stats you probably haven’t seen from the rivalry and a breakdown of Yankees’ starting pitcher Freddy Garcia’s arsenal.

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* – The Red Sox pitching staff heads into Yankee Stadium having struck out at least eight in each of their last nine games there. It’s the longest streak of 8+ strikeouts in road games against the Yankees by any team ever:

9 – Red Sox (Aug. 7, 2010 – May 15, 2011)
5 – Rays (Sept. 8, 2009 – July 16, 2010)
4 – Three times (Last: Red Sox, April 22, 2001 – June 4, 2001)

Note this: Prior to the last two games in New York, where Red Sox hitters fanned eight and nine times, they had struck out six times or fewer in the previous 11 straight at Yankee Stadium, the longest such streak by the Red Sox at New York since a 12-gamer in 1977.

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* – The Red Sox have 27 stolen bases and have not been caught in their last 24 games against the Yankees regardless of site. At New York, they’ve stolen 16 without being caught over their last 17 games. Yankees baserunners, meanwhile, have 35 steals in 40 attempts over the last 27 games against the Red Sox (home and away) and 20 steals in 23 attempts over the last 15 against Boston at Yankee Stadium.

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* – In the Red Sox’ last 25 games at Yankee Stadium (since July 6, 2008), the Yankees have hit 40 home runs. That’s a pace for 259 homers over a 162 game season. The Red Sox have hit 29 in that same stretch.

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* – Since the start of last season (12 games in New York), Red Sox relievers have inherited 12 runners and none of them have scored. Over the previous 10 games at the Stadium, Sox relievers allowed 11-of-23 inherited runners to score.

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* – The Yankees have issued an intentional walk in each of the Red Sox last five games in New York.

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* – Dustin Pedroia has had three or more hits against the Yankees 11 times in his career and still has only 264 career at-bats against them. No other player ever has had as many such games against them in fewer than 350 career AB (Shano Collins, 1910-1924).

Note this, however: Over his last 11 games in New York, Pedroia has grounded into three double plays, has zero RBI, and has a .167 average (7-for-42).

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* – Kevin Youkilis has a career .453 OBP against the Yankees, the second-highest opponent OBP since 1946 (min. 300 AB):

.492 – Ted Williams
.453 – Kevin Youkilis
.447 – Ferris Fain
.437 – Luke Appling

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* – David Ortiz’ 32 home runs and 118 RBI against the Yankees are the most by any active Yankees’ opponent. Next most by an active player is 28 home runs and 104 RBI, by Vernon Wells.

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* – The Red Sox leadoff spot has scored only four runs in the last 17 games against the Yankees. During that same stretch of 17 games, the Yankees’ leadoff spot has scored 16 runs.

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* – When Jarrod Salatalamacchia homered out of the ninth spot the last time the Red Sox faced the Yankees at Yankee Stadium (May 15), it was the first homer there by a player at the bottom of the Red Sox order in over four years and 142 plate appearances (April 29, 2007 by Alex Cora).

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* – Breaking down Yankees’ starter Freddy Garcia by pitch type:

Vs. LHB – Four-seam fastball (25%); -0.59 pts/pitch;
The four seamer to lefties has been Garcia’s least effective pitch. The average points per pitch (-0.59) is the worst in the majors for a four seamer by any pitcher who has thrown at least 75 of them this season. Also, it’s the second slowest in the AL at 86.8 MPH. Only Chicago’s Mark Buehrle (85.1) throws a softer four-seamer. Garcia tried to establish it to lefties over three starts in May, throwing 53 of them over those three outings, but he tried just 10 over his last two starts combined. One of those 10 left the yard.

Vs. LHB – Changeup (25%); +0.33 pts/pitch;
Even though Garcia has used his changeup about 25% of the time against lefties, of his 25 swings and misses against them, 15 have come via the changeup (60%).

Vs. LHB – Slider (17%); -0.09 pts/pitch;
Garcia is one of only six AL pitchers who have thrown 50+ sliders to lefties and still has a negative points per pitch. He has only one swing and miss out of 19 opponent swings at the slider, tied with Minnesota’s Carl Pavano for the lowest percentage (5.3%) in the majors.

Vs. LHB – Curve (16%); +0.93 pts/pitch;
That’s the second best curveball points/pitch by a right-handed pitcher to lefties in the AL so far this season. Only teammate David Robertson (+1.12) ranks higher.

Vs. LHB – Split (9%); -0.58 pts/pitch;
Thrown it five or six times in each of his last five starts and over that same span, opposing lefties are 4-for-11 with two doubles and a home run off the splitter.

Vs. LHB – Two-seam fastball (8%); -0.41 pts/pitch;
Not much to see here.

Vs. RHB – Slider (35%); +0.36 pts/pitch;
RHB get the slider on the first pitch 37% of the time. 12 of the last 18 times that he’s thrown the slider as a first pitch to a righty, it’s been a positive result (out or strike).

Vs. RHB – Four-seam fastball (28%); +0.37 pts/pitch;
Only one swing and miss out of 48 swings (and 121 pitches). Toronto shortstop Yunel Escobar was the unlucky victim on an 88 MPH toss.

Vs. RHB – Changeup (19%); +1.22 pts/pitch;
So far in 2011, Garcia’s changeup to righties has been the third most effective in the majors, behind only Felix Hernandez (+1.64) and Roy Halladay (+1.28). Opposing RHB are 3-for-27 (.111) with 16 strikeouts and one walk against Garcia’s changeup this season. 56% (24-of-43) of Garcia’s swings and misses against right-handed batters have come via his change.

Vs. RHB – Two-seam fastball (10%); -0.09 pts/pitch;
Opposing RHB are 6-for-12 with two home runs (JP Arencibia, Magglio Ordonez) against Garcia’s two-seamer.

Vs. RHB – Split (5%); -0.26 pts/pitch;
Vs. RHB – Curve (3%); +0.46 pts/pitch;
Not enough sample size to make many judgments.