Rough and tumble

The Sox, who have 13 games left to play, hold a 5 1/2-game lead in the American League East over the Yankees, who have 14 left. The Sox' magic number to win their first division title since the Sons of Kevin Kennedy won in 1995 is down to nine.

"They got our pen [Friday] night and we got them today - we're right back where we started," said Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, who yesterday was left in the pen by Josh Beckett, who won his 19th game and scored a TKO over Chien-Ming Wang in a duel of Cy Young Award candidates.

"We came out today and made a big statement - not only Beckett, but everyone in our lineup who had an at-bat made a big statement. That was awesome to see, and fun to be a part of."

Beckett was nails, giving up a bases-empty home run to Derek Jeter in the first, then allowing just two more singles over the next six innings. Beckett (19-6) struck out seven, including a run of four in a row that began when he whiffed Alex Rodriguez with a 94-mile-an-hour fastball on the outside black to end the third.

"I thought Beckett did exactly what we have come to expect and also needed," Sox manager Terry Francona said. "He pitched like an ace of a staff today. Against the best lineup in baseball, he went out there and did exactly what we needed."

David Ortiz, who said he'd slept little after what he called the "nightmare" of Friday night's 8-7 loss, reached base five times on two singles, a two-run double, and two walks.

Jacoby Ellsbury, inserted as a pinch runner after Kevin Youkilis was hit by a pitch and left the game with a bruised right wrist in the fifth, scored the go-ahead run on a single by J.D. Drew. The rookie singled home a run in the sixth, then came around to score, sliding under Posada just two batters after Hinske had flattened him. He singled home two more runs in the seventh. Ellsbury has now hit safely in all 13 games since being called up from Pawtucket and has driven in four runs and scored three in his first two games against the Yankees.