Yankees Stay Close and Win in Ninth

Pedro Martinez and Mike Mussina matched each other pitch for pitch, so the New York Yankees just waited for a fortunate bounce.

Todd Walker booted Curtis Pride’s bases-loaded grounder in the ninth inning, giving New York a 2-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Monday and a split of their four-game series.

“If there’s a blueprint for beating Pedro, that’s the blueprint. Keep it close and hope for a break,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said. “He doesn’t give you much.”

Martinez and Mussina locked up in a marquee matchup that lived up to its billing, and Red Sox reliever Byung-Hyun Kim had another forgettable day at Yankee Stadium.

New York won without Derek Jeter and Alfonso Soriano, who left early after bruising their hands on high-and-tight pitches from Martinez, and increased its lead in the American League East to four games over Boston.

X-rays on Jeter and Soriano were negative, and both were day-to-day with bone bruises.

Hideki Matsui and Karim Garcia singled off Kim (2-2) to start the ninth. Pinch-hitter Jorge Posada was hit by a pitch, loading the bases, and Robin Ventura struck out.

With the infield drawn in, Pride hit a grounder to second base that knocked Walker’s glove off as he tried to backhand it. By the time Walker corralled the ball with two bare hands it was too late, and his high throw to the plate had no chance to get Matsui.

Mariano Rivera (3-0) pitched a scoreless ninth for the victory.

Pitching inside all day, Martinez struck out 11 in seven sharp innings. But Mussina was just as good, retiring 21 in a row after Manny Ramirez’s RBI double in the first.