Yankees Blast Bo Sox In Game One Of Late Summer Series

YANKEES 13

RED SOX 6

Is there anyone who can stop the Yankees in the American League? Right now it doesn't look like it. The Yankees exorcised their demons tonight in the Bronx, driving out the evil spell of the hated Boston Red Sox 13-6, and ending an eight game losing streak to Boston in this season.

The Yankee bats were hotter than the weather as they belted four homers and put up an eight run fourth inning to all but seal the game.

The offensive barrage began in the third inning when Johnny Damon homered to right off John Smoltz to tie the game at one.

After the Red Sox took a 3-1 lead on a Casey Kotchman two run homer, the Yankees went ballistic in the fourth. Jorge Posada led with a double to right; Robinson Cano then drove in Posada with a single to shallow center field to move the Yankees to within one, 3-2. After a Nick Swisher walk, Melky Cabrera cracked a three run homer to right to give the Yankees a 5-3 lead.

But that was not all; things got even worse for Smoltz. He gave up a single to Damon, a double to Mark Teixeria, and a walk to Alex Rodriguez to load them up. Terry Francona, having seen enough, pulled the veteran from the game for Billy Traber, but the move didn't work out too well.

Hideki Matsui grounded into a fielder's choice to bring home Damon, making it 6-3; then Posada rocketed a three run homer to center field to give the Yankees a 9-3 advantage.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Yankees iced the contest when Matsui doubled to left to drive in Cabrera and A-Rod to make it 11-4 Bombers.

The Yankees now move to 3.5 games ahead of Boston for first place in the AL East. They will play three more with Boston this weekend and could easily put the Sox in the rear view mirror before mid-August. Box Score.