NEW YORK, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Derek Jeter's three-run homer highlighted a second-inning outburst Saturday that lifted the New York Yankees to a 9-1 victory over reeling Boston.
Jesus Montero went 3-for-4 a solo homer, four runs batted in and three runs scored for the American League East champion Yankees, who scored eight times in the second.
The loss came as another blow to the AL wild card-leading Red Sox, who came into the contest with a 2 1/2-game advantage over Tampa Bay.
They lost for the sixth time in seven games and fell to 5-17 in September in dropping the first of a rain-delayed, three-game set at Yankee Stadium.
Boston's Jon Lester (15-9) lost his third straight game, getting pounded for eight runs on eight hits in just 2 2/3 innings -- his shortest outing of the season.
