A big-time broom: Yankees complete 5-game sweep of Red Sox

BOSTON – The New York Yankees completed an unimaginable five-game sweep at Fenway Park, beating Boston 2-1 today behind six shutout innings by Cory Lidle and extending their AL East lead to a season-high 61/2 games over the Red Sox.

After bashing Boston in outscoring them 47-25 over four days, the Yankees relied on their pitching to win the sleepy series finale.

Manager Joe Torre shouted in the Yankees' dugout and exchanged hearty handshakes with his coaches after the hard-to-believe sweep.

The Red Sox hadn't been swept in a five-game series since the Cleveland Indians did it in 1954. The Yankees swept Boston in five games in New York in 1951 and at Fenway in '43.

It was 28 years ago that the Yankees came to Fenway in September with a four-game deficit and left tied for the division lead — a series remembered in baseball as the "Boston Massacre." New York, which had trailed by as many as 14 games, won the AL East in a one-game playoff settled when Bucky Dent's popup settled into the net above the Green Monster.

The Yankees and Red Sox headed to the West Coast after this game. New York left in full command of the division while the Red Sox had to be thinking about the wild card — they began the day four games behind in that race.

With both teams' bullpens shot — both closers were unavailable — and everyone else lethargic after the first 161/2 hours of baseball wrapped up at 1:26 a.m. Monday morning, Lidle and David Wells coasted through the first five innings.

But Wells (2-3) faltered first, giving up Bobby Abreu's RBI double in the sixth to break a scoreless tie. Wells gave up two runs on six hits and a walk, striking out four before leaving with a runner on third and one out in the eighth, getting a standing ovation from the fans and his teammates.

Right after Wells left, reliever Keith Foulke threw a wild pitch that let Nick Green — who had led off with a double — trot home for a 2-0 lead.

Lidle (2-2), acquired at the trading deadline from Philadelphia along with Abreu, pitched six innings of shutout ball, allowing just three hits and five walks to go with five strikeouts.

Octavio Dotel, Mike Myers, Scott Proctor and Kyle Farnsworth finished it for the Yankees. Farnsworth pitched the ninth for his second save in six tries while Mariano Rivera rested after pitching two innings on Sunday night.

The Yankees also started the game resting center fielder Johnny Damon, catcher Jorge Posada and first baseman Jason Giambi while used Derek Jeter at designated hitter.

Wily Mo Pena had two hits for Boston, including a solo homer in the eighth off Proctor.

Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez left the game in the fifth inning with a cramp in his right hamstring. He had been the most productive player in the Red Sox lineup during the series, going 8-for-11 with two homers, seven RBIs and nine walks.

He walked twice on Monday and left after being forced at second on Eric Hinske's fielder's choice in the fourth.

Notes: According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last five-game sweep in the majors was Boston over Toronto at Fenway Park in 2002. ... Red Sox SS Alex Gonzalez, who missed the previous two games with back spasms, was originally in the starting lineup but was scratched. ... Jeter's fourth-inning single was the 1,531st of his career, tying him with Bernie Williams and Lou Gehrig atop the Yankees' all-time list. Williams reached the milestone on Friday. ... The Red Sox demoted Craig Hansen, their No. 1 draft pick in 2005, to Triple-A after he took the loss in extra innings on Sunday night. Bryan Corey was called up to replace him. ... Boston 1B Kevin Youkilis was not in the starting lineup a day after jamming his ankle and getting spiked in the hand. ... Kyle Snyder will start for Boston on Tuesday. ... Red Sox leadoff man Coco Crisp was 1-for-19 in the series. ... Torre said the groin tightness that caused starter Mike Mussina to leave Sunday night's game early was probably "just a cramp."