With a single defeat, the Sox did not concede their commanding advantage in the American League East. They're 9 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Bombers, who slipped a half-game ahead of the Orioles, who played an exhibition in Cooperstown, N.Y.
With one win, the Yankees did not suddenly cure all that ailed them. Should they lose the next two, the Bombers may be angling again for space on the obit pages.
But for one night, at least, the Yankees reminded one and all that they still can look like world-beaters, even against the Sox, who had slapped them around last month in winning five times in six meetings.
"They're going through a tough time," said David Ortiz, who drove in both Boston runs with a double and a sacrifice fly. "But because they're having a tough time doesn't mean it's over. When they get things together, they can make some damage."
New York's marquee names all stepped up to make it a miserable night for the Sox and Tim Wakefield. Johnny Damon had three hits and stole two bases. Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi hit home runs. Derek Jeter drove in an early run. Chien-Ming Wang allowed 10 runners in 6 1/3 innings, but he choked off the big inning whenever the Sox entertained the notion of staging one.
"More urgency? I don't know if I sensed that," said Sox third baseman Mike Lowell, whose 11-game hitting streak came to an end. "This is a big series any time. They're playing to win, the same as we are. You could have them switch places with us in the standings and I don't think it would have affected the way either team played. Especially since it's May."
Damon started it all off with a base hit off Wakefield, the first of nine hits in five innings off the knuckleballer, who also walked five. Three batters later, Rodriguez homered, his third in three games and 18th of the season, to give the Bombers a 2-0 advantage.
An inning later, Giambi, who had been dropped to seventh in the order and had just one hit in 26 at-bats, put one in the upper deck in right to make it 3-0. A double by Robinson Cano and singles by Damon and Jeter made it 4-0 before the inning was over.
