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Buchholz stays perfect as Red Sox sweep Yankees

Sep 16, 2013 - 6:31 AM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Clay Buchholz remained undefeated and Daniel Nava went 4-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI as the Boston Red Sox completed one of their most successful campaigns against the New York Yankees with a 9-2 rout on Sunday to sweep a three-game series from the longtime rival.

Buchholz (11-0), in his second start since returning from the disabled list, gave up just two hits and four walks over six innings of one-run ball.

His outing, coupled with an 11-hit attack, gave the Red Sox their 13th victory over the Yankees this year, their most against their division foe since 1973.

Mike Napoli belted a two-run homer while Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz both knocked in a pair of runs for Boston, which trimmed its magic number to win the AL East to four heading into the final two weeks of the season.

"Our confidence continues to grow, and that's not to take anything for granted, or a matter of our guys thinking that someone is not going to pitch a good game against us or play a good game against us," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "It's just a matter of this group believes in itself and it continues to show up between the lines."

Ivan Nova (8-5) was knocked out in the fifth inning after allowing five runs -- four earned -- on six hits and four walks to suffer his first loss since July 27.

"It hurts," Nova said. "It's bad, especially when you see the teams ahead of you lose and you want to get a win for the team. Unfortunately I couldn't get it today. That's the worst part."

The only run the Yankees managed off Buchholz came in the first inning when Curtis Granderson walked, advanced two bases on an errant pickoff attempt and scored on Alex Rodriguez's groundout to short.

The Red Sox answered right back in their first at-bat. Nava reached on a one- out double and scored on Ortiz's base hit to left field, and two batters later Napoli took Nova deep to center field.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Xander Bogaerts executed a double steal in the fourth inning, with the former taking home for just his third steal of the year.

Nova was pulled after plunking Mike Carp with the bases loaded in the fifth, and though Adam Warren got out of the jam without further damage, the Red Sox kept adding to their lead.

Nava and Ortiz both singled in a run in the sixth and Pedroia doubled in a pair an inning later.

New York's Ichiro Suzuki drove in a run in the ninth to account for the final margin.

Game Notes

The Red Sox are the first team with 13 wins against the Yankees in a single season since the Orioles went 13-5 against them in 1976 ... Roger Clemens was the last Red Sox pitcher to start a season 11-0 (14-0 in 1986) ... Buchholz lowered his ERA to 1.51 ... Rodriguez exited early with a tight right calf ... The Red Sox honored the retiring Mariano Rivera before the game with several gifts.