Jeter’s homer lifts Yankees to victory

BOSTON -- Curt Schilling against Derek Jeter. Mariano Rivera facing David Ortiz.

And both times, the New York Yankees came out on top.

Jeter hit a three-run homer off Schilling to break an eighth-inning tie and Rivera got Ortiz to pop up with the bases loaded for the final out Sunday night as the Yankees held off the Red Sox, 4-3, and cut Boston’s East Division lead to 4 1/2 games.

“It’s an honor to watch the best clutch hitter in history do his thing, and the best closer in history do his thing,” said Roger Clemens, who in his first start since Sept. 3 dueled Schilling to a 1-1 tie before leaving after six innings. “Jeter is one of the reasons that I got up off the couch and came back.”

Schilling (8-8) outlasted Clemens but couldn’t beat Jeter, who drove a 2-and-2 splitter over the Green Monster to give the Yankees a 4-1 lead. Joba Chamberlain and Rivera held on.