NEW YORK, April 23 (UPI) -- Derek Lowe allowed two runs in six-plus innings Friday night and Boston pounded the New York Yankees, 11-2, in the opener of a three-game series.
Kevin Millar, Mark Bellhorn and Bill Mueller homered in a five-run fourth to key the Boston offense.
Manny Ramirez homered in the ninth for the Red Sox, who have won four of the first five meetings with the Yankees this season. They took three of four last weekend at Fenway Park.
Lowe (2-1) scattered six hits with two walks and two strikeouts, rebounding from Sunday's shaky outing against New York in which he allowed seven runs in 2 2/3 innings.
While Lowe bounced back, Jose Contreras (0-2) continued to have no success against the Red Sox. He surrendered five runs in 3 1/3 innings, falling to 0-3 with an 18.00 ERA in four career appearances against Boston.
Despite pitching for the first time in 11 days due to a pair of rainouts, Lowe was sharp. He blanked the Yankees until Hideki Matsui hit a two-run homer in the seventh.
