NEW YORK -- Nothing is ever boring about a Red Sox-Yankees series. Something always seems to happen.

Well, the first three games of this four-game set at Yankee Stadium almost had a ho-hum feeling to them. Sure, there were some exciting aspects to the first three games, but nothing earth-shattering that fans are accustomed to when it comes to the Yankees and Red Sox.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact neither team is atop the A.L. East standings for the first time in a long time at this point of the season. Maybe it's because the first half of the regular season is coming to an end on Sunday. Either way the first three games seemed like your normal July series.

That changed Sunday last night during a nationally televised game from the Bronx.

In order to appreciate last night's game - which the Yankees won 5-4 in the bottom of the 10th inning on a RBI-single by rookie Brett Gardner off Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon - one would have to take a look back at last season.

It was when then-rookie Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain twice threw behind the head of Sox' Kevin Youkilis during an at-bat late in the season. The incident ignited another feud in this storied rivalry.

Fast-forward to the fifth inning here Sunday night when Youkilis stood on third base with already two hits in the game off Chamberlain, who is now in the starting rotation for New York. With the bases loaded he threw a wild pitch, which allowed Youkilis to score the game-tying run.

On the play, Chamberlain stood right on home plate, so when Youkilis slid in, he made contact with the pitcher's leg.

Chamberlain didn't forget.

During Youkilis's next plate appearance in the top of the sixth inning, Chamberlain fired a fastball behind Youkilis.

"What I want to say, I'm not going to say because I'll probably get fined by Major League Baseball," said Youkilis. "That's all I've got to say about it. It's doesn't matter to me because we lost the game."

After the pitch zoomed behind Youkilis, he started to take a few steps toward the mound and said a few words before he stopped. He then had words with home-plate umpire Laz Diaz and tried to explain that it wasn't the first time Chamberlain had thrown behind him.

"He told me 'That was last time, this is this time.' Whatever that means," said Youkilis.

When asked if he thought it has anything to do with his slide at home plate earlier in the game, Youkilis pointed that question towards Chamberlain.

"You're asking the wrong guy," he said. "I'm the guy who stands there each time, and he's the one who throws the ball. Ask him the question. Don't ask me anymore."

Chamberlain was asked about the incident.

"There was no intent," he said.

In the Sox' dugout, hitting coach Dave Magadan and third baseman Mike Lowell stood on the top step displaying their displeasure with the pitch.

"I saw it," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "Obviously there's a little history there."

jmcdonal@projo.com