Red Sox too good again

The Boston Red Sox continued their mastery of fierce rivals New York, stretching their unbeaten streak over the Yankees to seven games this season with a 6-5 win.

BOSTON // The Boston Red Sox continued their mastery of fierce rivals New York on Wednesday, stretching their unbeaten streak over the Yankees to seven games this season with a 6-5 win. Tim Wakefield inspired the hosts (35-24) to victory and they replace their opponents (34-25) at the top of the American League East. Wakefield gave up three runs over six innings to improve to 5-0 at Fenway Park in 2009.

Hideki Okajima, the Boston reliever, pitched a scoreless one and a third innings and closer Jonathan Papelbon escaped the threat of a runner in a scoring position in the ninth. The Red Sox scored two runs in the second inning, and Mike Lowell hit a solo home run in the third where the team took a 4-1 advantage. Kevin Youkilis blasted a two-run shot in the fourth to put the hosts 6-2 ahead. The Yankees battled back, Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira delivered solo shots in the seventh innings off Red Sox reliever Ramon Ramirez, but could not complete the comeback.

Teixeira, who has thrived since joining New York in the off season, finished 4-for-5 with two runs scored. Yankees starting pitcher Wang Chien-ming, who returned from a hip ailment last month, lasted less than three innings, giving up four runs with three walks. New York were due to send prized acquisition CC Sabathia to the mound against Boston's Brad Penny yesterday as the Yankees tried to avoid being swept by the Red Sox for a third successive series.

"Unfortunately we are 0-7 against them, but in the American League East we're down one," said Damon, the Yankees outfielder. "Hopefully, the next game can be a different story, and we can try to get that win and start going from there." * Reuters