Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury is congratulated by teammates after stealing home with the bases loaded off New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte in the fifth inning of Sunday's game at Fenway in Boston.
BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox ran off with a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees.
Boston speedster Jacoby Ellsbury surprised left-hander Andy Pettitte by stealing home in a three-run fifth inning that gave the Red Sox their 10th straight win, 4-1 Sunday night.
They came from behind in all three games and trailed Sunday on Brett Gardner’s sacrifice fly in the third. But the Red Sox tied it on a sacrifice fly by David Ortiz in the bottom of the inning.
In the fifth, Ortiz doubled in the go-ahead run before Kevin Youkilis was walked intentionally to load the bases. As Pettitte began his windup with J.D. Drew at bat, Ellsbury raced home and slid in headfirst ahead of Jorge Posada’s tag. Drew then made it 4-1 with a ground-rule double.
“The biggest thing is getting the courage to go, I guess. In that situation, bases loaded, you’ve got to make it,” Ellsbury said.
Justin Masterson (2-0) pitched 5 1/3 innings in his second start in place of Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is on the disabled list with shoulder problems. Takashi Saito pitched the ninth for his second save.
Pettitte (2-1) dropped to 17-2 in 24 starts when trying to prevent the Yankees from getting swept, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Ellsbury’s steal was the latest dramatic play in a series full of them for the Red Sox.
They won 5-4 Friday night when Jason Bay tied the game with a two-run homer off Mariano Rivera in the ninth and won it on Youkilis’ homer in the 11th. Boston won 16-11 on Saturday, overcoming a 6-0 deficit with a total of six RBIs from Mike Lowell in the seventh and eighth innings.
White Sox 4, Blue Jays 3: At Chicago, Scott Rolen hit a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning.
Orioles 8, Rangers 5: At Baltimore, Adam Jones hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning and Baltimore rallied for a victory.
Indians 4, Twins 2: At Cleveland, Aaron Laffey pitched into the seventh inning and rookie Tony Sipp came up with two big strikeouts, helping Cleveland avoid a three-game sweep.
Tigers 3, Royals 2: At Kansas City, Mo., Brandon Inge hit a two-run homer and Armando Galarraga pitched six solid innings for Detroit.
Athletics 7, Rays 1: At Oakland, Calif., Kurt Suzuki drove in three runs, Dana Eveland pitched into the sixth inning and the Athletics won.
Angels 8, Mariners 0: At Anaheim, Calif., Howie Kendrick homered and had a career-high four RBIs, Jered Weaver combined with two relievers on a five-hitter, and the Angels avoided a three-game sweep.
NL: Phillies beat Marlins again
MIAMI – Shane Victorino drove in four runs, Jamie Moyer pitched six solid innings and the Philadelphia Phillies extended the Florida Marlins’ skid to six with a 13-2 victory on Sunday.
Florida, which began the season 11-1, is mired in its longest losing streak since an eight-game slide from Aug. 15-22, 2007.
Cubs 10, Cardinals 3: At St. Louis, Kosuke Fukudome hit a three-run homer and drove in five on his 32nd birthday, leading Chicago to the victory.
Reds 8, Braves 2: At Cincinnati, Jay Bruce homered twice and drove in four runs to help Cincinnati avoid a three-game sweep.
Astros 3, Brewers 2: At Houston, Ivan Rodriguez hit a tiebreaking homer in the fourth inning and the Astros snapped the Brewers’ four-game win streak.
Nationals 8, Mets 1: At New York, Jordan Zimmermann (2-0) struck out slumping David Wright three times and allowed one run and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Rockies 10, Dodgers 4: At Denver, Ryan Spilborghs homered and drove in three runs for Colorado, and Clint Barmes added a two-run shot.
Pirates 8, Padres 3: At San Diego, Ross Ohlendorf pitched into the eighth inning and Adam LaRoche hit two home runs, lifting Pittsburgh to the victory.