Boston pounded out 27 hits

NEW YORK (AP) -- So much for that slump. Edgar Renteria, Manny

Ramirez and the Boston Red Sox broke out with 27 hits in their

biggest blowout against the rival New York Yankees.

Renteria hit a grand slam, Ramirez got four singles, and Boston

battered New York pitching Saturday for a 17-1 rout that snapped a

season-high, four-game losing streak.

Trot Nixon homered and had five RBI for the Red Sox, who backed

unbeaten Matt Clement by scoring their most runs ever against the

Yankees.

"Our offense took it personally today. This offense, we haven't

even seen what they're going to do," Clement said. "We had to

respond because the Yankees are playing so good right now."

Johnny Damon also had four hits and scored three times, and John

Olerud had three hits in his first major league game since last

fall. It was Boston's largest margin of victory over the Yankees,

surpassing a 15-1 win on Sept. 1, 1990, at Fenway Park, according

to the Elias Sports Bureau.

"It's kind of obvious that we needed that," manager Terry

Francona said. "Not only to win, but to have a little bit of room

there, to take some deep breaths and let our staff pitch."

Carl Pavano (4-3) and Paul Quantrill were roughed up for the

Yankees, who had their five-game winning streak snapped and lost

for only the third time in 19 games. They had won nine consecutive

games at home.

The 27 hits were the most for the Red Sox since they tied the

club record of 28 on June 27, 2003, against Florida. Pavano started

that game as well, for the Marlins, and failed to get an out.

"It's got to be tough to watch if you're out there standing

behind me," Pavano said. "It's not what I had anticipated."

All the offense made it tough on the scoreboard operator at

Yankee Stadium -- the board went blank for a few moments in the

eighth inning as the Red Sox piled on. New York allowed its most

hits since giving up a franchise-record 28 on Sept. 29, 1928, in a

19-10 loss at Detroit.

"We'll look for a pick-me-up tomorrow," Yankees manager Joe

Torre said. "Hopefully, we'll get back on track and play the type

of baseball we've been used to the last three weeks. You've got to

brush it off."

The Red Sox had been held to three runs or fewer in three

consecutive games for the first time since August 2003. But they

set a season high for hits by the fifth inning behind Ramirez and

Renteria, who finished with five RBI.

Booed in Boston as he got off to a slow start in his first

season with the team, Renteria is 12-for-19 on the current road

trip, raising his average to .281.

"Edgar's got a big game he can play, just a matter of time with

him," teammate Jason Varitek said. "He's traditionally too good a

player. Confidence is a beautiful thing."

Ramirez's big game snapped a 1-for-16 skid. He hit just .193 in

his previous 31 games, a slump that dropped his average to .224.

Pursued by Boston last offseason, Pavano gave up five runs and a

season-high 11 hits -- 10 singles and a double. He lost for the

first time in eight starts since April 15 at Baltimore and was

booed off the mound by a disappointed crowd of 55,315.

Clement (6-0) struck out his first three batters, then worked

out of trouble the rest of the afternoon. He allowed five hits in

six shutout innings, striking out seven and walking four.

Ramirez and Nixon hit consecutive RBI singles with two outs in

the fourth for a 5-0 lead, chasing Pavano.

Three straight Red Sox singles in the fifth chased Mike Stanton,

and Renteria sent Quantrill's second pitch over the right-field

fence for his fourth career slam.

After Ramirez singled for his fourth consecutive hit, Nixon made

it 12-0 with a three-run shot to center.

"I was terrible," Quantrill said. "I didn't have anything."

Jay Payton, who replaced Ramirez in left field in the sixth,

added a two-run drive off Quantrill in the seventh.

Game notes
Boston scored 16 runs against the Yankees on Aug. 12, 1937,

at Fenway. ... Olerud made his first start at 1B for Boston and

singled to right in his first at-bat. He finished 3-for-6 but could

have had five hits -- he hit two balls that deflected off the

pitcher for groundouts. "It's just a good way to start things

off," he said. "Definitely nervous for the first little bit.

Everybody else has two months under their belt. This is like

opening day for me. You're with a new club, you want to do well."

... The 19-game season series is tied 4-4. ... Renteria's previous

grand slam came on June 9, 2004, with St. Louis at Wrigley Field.

... Derek Jeter was hit in the back by Clement's pitch in the

third. He left for a pinch-hitter in the fifth with New York down

12-0. ... Red Sox C Kelly Shoppach made his major league debut when

he came in to catch in the seventh.