Bronx Cheers Resound in Boston After Shutout

Fans booed the Boston Red Sox, and it didn’t have anything to do with a possible strike.

Mike Mussina pitched a three-hitter and Bernie Williams hit a three-run homer to help the New York Yankees beat Pedro Martinez and the Red Sox, 7-0, Wednesday at Fenway Park in Boston.

New York shut out the Red Sox for the second consecutive game.

“There’s no question it’s going to take a big chunk of their heart away from them,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said after Boston lost its final game before the strike deadline.

The win gave New York a season-high nine-game lead in the American League East. Boston failed to gain on the Angels in the wild-card race.

Mussina (16-7), who came within one strike of a perfect game at Fenway last September before finishing with a one-hitter, struck out nine and walked one for his first shutout of the season.

The Red Sox committed three errors--two in the first inning as the Yankees touched Martinez (17-4) for an unearned run.

Martinez gave up three earned runs, five hits and a season-high four walks. He struck out nine before leaving down, 2-0, with two on and one out in the seventh. The Yankees extended the lead in the inning after Williams homered off reliever Alan Embree for a 5-0 lead.

Minnesota 2, Seattle 1--Torii Hunter hit a two-run homer to help Johan Santana out-duel Joel Pineiro, and the Twins beat the slumping Mariners at Minneapolis. Bret Boone homered for the Mariners, who have lost four of five and 13 of 22. If a strike ends the regular season Friday, the Mariners would be out of the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

Hunter’s homer in the sixth was all Santana (8-5) needed. He gave up five hits, a run and three walks and struck out five in seven innings before yielding to J.C. Romero, who loaded the bases in the eighth on two singles and a walk.

But John Olerud grounded into a double play that ended the threat, and Eddie Guardado pitched the ninth for his 38th save in 43 chances.

Pineiro (13-5) lost for the first time in eight starts since July 16 against Baltimore.

Cleveland 2, Detroit 1--Jim Thome homered twice and C.C. Sabathia pitched seven solid innings to lead the Indians at Cleveland. Thome was three for three with home runs in the second and sixth innings.

Travis Fryman, who announced before the game that he will retire at the end of the season, was 0 for 3. Indians fans gave Fryman a standing ovation in the top of the seventh following a video presentation.

The five-time All-Star tipped his cap and Thome, John McDonald and Omar Vizquel ran over from their positions in the infield to embrace him.

Sabathia (9-10) gave up a run on four hits and four walks, striking out six. It was his first win in three starts. Danys Baez, moved from the starting rotation to the closer role this week, pitched the ninth for his first career save.

Texas 5, Baltimore 3--Todd Hollandsworth and Ivan Rodriguez homered, and Chan Ho Park struck out eight in seven innings to lead the Rangers at Arlington, Texas. Park (6-6) won consecutive decisions for the first time since signing a $65 million, five-year contract with the Rangers last December. He gave up two runs and seven hits.

The wins have come in the right-hander’s first two starts since coming off the 15-day disabled list because of a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand. He gave up two runs on seven hits over six innings at Yankee Stadium last Friday.

Chicago 8, Toronto 0--Jon Garland pitched a six-hitter for his first career complete game and Magglio Ordonez homered twice to lead the White Sox at Chicago. Garland (9-10), making his 56th career start, struck out nine and walked one, allowing only three runners past first base and one past second.