The Boston Red Sox further slammed the slim playoff hopes of the New York Yankees on Wednesday, routing them 11-3 at Yankee Stadium for a second straight win.
Second baseman Dustin Pedroia went 3-for-5 with his first-career grand slam during the Red Sox seven-run eighth inning to lead his team past New York for the second night in a row.
The Yankees (70-62) came into the three-game series needing a good showing in order to keep pace in the American League Wildcard race, but two straight losses have dropped them seven games behind race-leading Boston (77-55).
"We couldn't have been any worse the first two games," Yankee captain Derek Jeter said, after going 1-for-4 at the plate. "A lot of people are counting us out. It's our job to prove them wrong."
Reliever Jose Veras was responsible for five earned runs in 1/3 inning during the eighth as the Red Sox put the game out of reach.
Jason Bay continued his solid play since being traded to Boston for Manny Ramirez last month, going 2-for-4 with four RBIs.
Bay's two-run double in the first gave the Red Sox an early 2-0 edge over the Yankees and starter Sidney Ponson, who lasted just 4 2/3 innings.
Red Sox starter Paul Byrd picked up the victory in a six-inning effort that saw the right-hander allow two runs.
In other AL games, it was: Rays 1, Blue Jays 0 Orioles 11, White Sox 3 Athletics 6, Angels 5 Twins 6, Mariners 5 Indians 9, Tigers 7 and Rangers 3, Royals 2.
In the National League, it was: Mets 6, Phillies 3 Cubs 2, Pirates 0 Padres 5, Diamondbacks 4 Nationals 5, Dodgers 4 Marlins 4, Braves 1 Astros 4, Reds 1 Cardinals 5, Brewers 3 and Giants 4, Rockies 1.
In Seattle, Minnesota snapped a four-game losing streak with a narrow win over Seattle. The win moved the Twins within a game of the AL Central lead.
Denard Span drove in two runs and threw out the potential tying run at the plate in the bottom of the eighth.
In Detroit, Cleveland beat Detroit to notch its 10th straight win. Cleveland's team record is 13 consecutive wins, accomplished twice, the last time in 1951.
Kelly Shoppach homered and drove in three runs and Shin-Soo Choo hit a home run for the Indians.
In Philadelphia, Daniel Murphy hit a tiebreaking double after Carlos Delgado's second solo homer had tied the game in the eighth and the New York Mets beat the Phillies 6-3 to reclaim first place in the NL East division.
Ryan Howard hit a two-run homer and Jayson Werth homered for the Phillies, who fell a 1/2-game behind the Mets.
With two outs, Delgado tied it at 3 off Rudy Seanez (5-4). After Carlos Beltran reached on an infield single. Brad Lidge, who is 31-for-31 in save chances, came in and intentionally walked Ryan Church after Beltran stole second. Murphy doubled for a 4-3 lead. Brian Schneider followed with a bloop single that drove in two runs.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily August 29, 2008)