Red Sox pound Yankees

Paul Byrd beat New York in a key game for the second year in a row and David Ortiz reached base four times for the second game in a row.

Pedroia's first career slam capped a seven-run eighth inning and sent hordes of booing Yankees fans shuffling toward the exits. New York dropped seven games behind Boston, which remained 3 1/2 games behind first-place Tampa Bay in the American League East.

The injury-depleted Yankees gave the ball to Sidney Ponson (7-5), who lasted 4 2/3 innings and dropped to 3-13 with a 6.95 earned-run average in 22 starts against the Red Sox.

Boston will try for a three-game sweep today with left-hander Jon Lester on the mound against 16-game winner Mike Mussina.

Byrd (9-11) stymied the Yankees with floaters and soft stuff, just as he did in October when the right-hander won at Yankee Stadium to clinch a first-round playoff series for Cleveland.

From the Associated Press