AP News
(2010-05-08 02:31:09)
BOSTON (Reuters) - The New York Yankees blew open a close game with a wild sixth inning to defeat rival Boston Red Sox 10-3 on Friday, giving the World Series champions their fifth straight win.
The Yankees sent 11 batters to the plate during the sixth inning and scored six runs to open a 9-1 lead and chase Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett from the game.
Nick Swisher broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning with a three-run homer off Beckett, but the Yankees failed to capitalize later in the inning and left two runners on base.
The Red Sox responded in the bottom of the fourth when J.D. Drew scored on a sacrifice fly by David Ortiz. The Red Sox also added one run in each of the sixth and eighth innings.
It would be the only offense the Red Sox could generate against Yankees starter Phil Hughes, who spread seven hits across seven innings with seven strikeouts to improve his record to 4-0.
New York added to their lead in the eighth inning as Randy Winn singled and advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches by reliever Tim Wakefield before being driven in by Marcus Thames, who had two runs batted in.
(Writing by Mike Mouat in Windsor, Ontario; Editing by Frank Pingue)
