BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox don’t understand why they’ve been able to dominate CC Sabathia.
They just want it to continue.
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Jacoby Ellsbury had a three-run homer and knocked in a career-high six runs, and Carl Crawford had four hits to lead Boston to a 10-4 victory Saturday over the Yankees, snapping New York’s eight-game winning streak and leaving the teams tied for first — again — in the American League East.
“To get wins against guys like that, you try not to think about it too much,” said Crawford, who has hit safely in six consecutive plate appearances. “You try to just take it.”
One day after losing the series opener to fall into second place for the first time in almost a month, the Red Sox improved to 69-42, the same as the Yankees. Boston is 9-2 against New York this season, clinching at least a tie for the season series, and nowhere has the dominance been more complete than when Sabathia (16-6) pitches.
Sabathia, who leads the majors in wins, fell to 0-4 with a 7.20 ERA against Boston this year. He is 16-2 with a 2.11 ERA against everyone else.
“Believe me, it’s not like we go, ‘We’re going to lunch up on him,’” Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said. “He’s really good. He’s had his way with a lot of teams and we give him a good battle.”
Sabathia allowed seven runs in six innings, giving up nine hits and a walk with six strikeouts. It’s the first time in 11 starts he went less than seven innings.
“It’s a good ballclub. They have a good lineup. Like today, they wear on you,” Sabathia said. “I’ve faced all of those guys a lot. When I’m right, I can beat anybody.”
John Lackey (10-8) scattered six hits over six innings for the Red Sox, allowing three runs. He walked two and hit two batters while striking out five to win his fifth consecutive decision.
It was 2-2 when Kevin Youkilis doubled to lead off the fourth and, after David Ortiz struck out, Mike Aviles singled home one run. Crawford singled and, one out later, Marco Scutaro singled in another run before Ellsbury hit a high fly that landed in the first row of the right-field seats next to the 380-foot marker.
The Yankees cut it to 7-4 on Mark Teixeira’s solo homer off Daniel Bard in the eighth.
But Boston loaded the bases against Hector Noesi in the bottom half before Ellsbury hit a two-run single and Dustin Pedroia added a sacrifice fly to make it 10-4.
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