Friday, Red Sox at Yankees, 7 p.m., WCBS-2

Where have we seen this before? The Red Sox beat the Yankees in an April series, raising the hopes of New England before the Yankees squash them in September.

To twist what Yogi might say, “It has been deja vu, over and over and over again.”

Last weekend, Chapter 1, 2004, played out according to form.

With Round 2 of the heavyweight battle set for the Stadium starting Friday, how do the Red Sox get the cloud of the past out of their minds? Even in glee – which is what Boston was filled with after the Sox took three of four from the Yankees last weekend – there’s always an ominous expectation lurking.

From “No, No Nanette” to Dent to Buckner to Boone, history rides shotgun on the Red Sox ride to The Bronx.

“Obviously, the Sox would say, ‘No,’ but they are constantly reminded of [history,]” said Fox’ lead game analyst, Tim McCarver, who played briefly with the Red Sox in 1974 and 1975.

“From a human standpoint, it can’t help but wear on you. But they’ll say year in and year out, that their grandfathers weren’t even born when it started. You are always asked about it. It is always brought to your attention as though you have been responsible every single year. You would think the average age of this team is 92. It is almost like people think these players played in 1919.”

While Alex (1-for-17) Rodriguez felt the burden on the rivalry last weekend, something always seems to happen to the Sox in the big spot. Who will be the victim this year? Pedro Martinez? Pokey Reese? Bill Mueller? Who will join the lore? Or will the cycle end?

“You keep hearing about it from the media,” said Fox analyst Steve Lyons, also a Red Sox alum.

“You guys haven’t beaten these guys forever. They have 26 championships, you have none. You keep hearing it over and over and over again. The players are like, ‘We don’t give a rip because we weren’t born when half those championships were won.’ But you keep hearing it and you kind of pay attention to it.”

It looms, year after year after …