Yankees Bounce Back to Rout Red Sox, 14-4

Jon Lieber stopped the charging Boston Red Sox in what could turn out to be a key game in the American League East race.

Lieber had a no-hitter until David Ortiz’s two-out home run in the seventh inning, and the New York Yankees beat up on Derek Lowe in a 14-4 win Saturday at Yankee Stadium that restored their division lead to 3 1/2 games.

With the Yankees still thinking about Boston’s 3-2, ninth-inning comeback victory against Mariano Rivera a night earlier, Derek Jeter walked opening each of the first two innings and Alex Rodriguez followed with hits both times. New York went on to build a 9-0 lead by the second.

“Jeter, you get two walks in one game, you think you hit the lottery,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said of his free-swinging captain.

Jorge Posada hit a two-run single in a five-run first inning, and later hit a solo homer, Rodriguez hit a three-run homer and Bernie Williams had a home run and three runs batted in.

Lowe was knocked out in the second, his shortest start since July 3, 1997, leaving after Rodriguez hit a hard shot that bruised the pitcher’s right leg. By the eighth, giddy fans started reminding Boston of its bitter history, chanting “1918!” -- the last year the Red Sox won the World Series.

“To come back and win this game was very important,” Yankee outfielder Gary Sheffield said.

With a victory Saturday, Boston would have closed within 1 1/2 games of the Yankees for the first time since before play on June 2. Instead, New York can boost its lead to 4 1/2 games today when Mike Mussina pitches against Pedro Martinez. The teams play three more times at Fenway Park next weekend.

“It’s a boost of confidence for us,” Lieber said.

Lieber (12-8), coming off reconstructive elbow surgery in August 2002, won for the fourth time in five decisions. He allowed only one runner in the first six innings against the highest-scoring team in the majors, on a third-inning walk to Doug Mientkiewicz.

Lieber pitched 8 1/3 innings, giving up four hits, including Dave Roberts’ two-run homer in the ninth.

If Kevin Brown returns from a broken left hand, Lieber probably will be out of the playoff rotation, which also projects to include Orlando Hernandez, Mike Mussina and Javier Vazquez.

Still, the Yankees realize Lieber’s worth -- he’s 5-1 after New York losses.

“He’s been under the radar all year,” Torre said.

Oakland 7, Seattle 4 -- Tim Hudson beat the Mariners for the third time this season and Eric Chavez hit his 29th homer for the Athletics in a victory at Seattle.

Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki went one for five with his 200th single. He has 236 hits this season, 21 from tying the season record set by George Sisler with the St. Louis Browns in 1920.

Hudson (12-5) won for the fifth time in six decisions and improved his career record against the Mariners to 12-5 as Oakland moved two games ahead of the Angels in the AL West.

Baltimore 12, Minnesota 3 -- Miguel Tejada homered twice and drove in five runs, and rookie Daniel Cabrera threw six strong innings to lead the Orioles at Minneapolis.

Tejada boosted his major league-leading RBI total to 131 with a double in the third, a solo homer in the sixth and a towering three-run shot in a seven-run eighth in which Baltimore sent 12 batters to the plate.

Chicago 9, Detroit 8 -- Joe Borchard scored from second base on Aaron Rowand’s infield single in the 12th inning to give the White Sox a wild victory at Chicago.

Borchard and Rowand each hit two-run homers in the 10th inning after Dmitri Young and Carlos Pena hit two-run shots in the top half to give Detroit an 8-4 lead.

Damaso Marte (5-5) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings for Chicago for the victory.

Kansas City 7, Cleveland 1 -- John Buck hit a two-run homer and Jimmy Gobble (8-8) gave up two hits over seven innings to lead the Royals at Cleveland.

Toronto 4, Tampa Bay 2 -- David Bush and three relievers combined on a three-hitter to lead the Blue Jays at Toronto.