By Sean McAdam
CSNNE.com Red Sox InsiderFollow @sean_mcadam
On Tuesday night, the Red Sox left a staggering 16 runners on base. On Wednesday night, they found a solution to their problem: Two-run homers, which clean up after themselves.
The Sox drilled three of them, clubbing the New York Yankees 9-5.
The win re-established Boston's 1 12 game lead in the American League East and improved their record to 11-3 against New York this season.
Jacoby Ellsbury's two-run homer in the three-run sixth provided the winning margin.
David Ortiz and Jason Varitek also added two-run belts for the Red Sox.
The Red Sox had squandered a 4-1 lead in the fourth when the Yanks erupted for a four-run inning against Josh Beckett. The four runs were more than Beckett had allowed in four previous starts, covering 27 innings, against the Yankees this season.
Boston Red Sox
Eric Chavez provided the big blow in the four-run sixth, delivering two runs on a double to right and taking third on Josh Reddick's error, from where he scored on a sacrifice fly, giving the Yanks a 5-4 lead.
But Varitek (three RBI) doubled home Reddick to tie the gamd Ellsbury's homer, an opposite-field shot into the Monster Seats, gave the Sox a lead they wouldn't lose.
Varitek's two-run clout into the home bullpen in the eighth closed out the scoring.
Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon combined to shut out the Yankees over the final two innings.
Sean McAdam can be reached at smcadam@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Sean on Twitter at http:twitter.comsean_mcadam.