MANNY RAMIREZ

THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE
The Red Sox sweep the Yankees

April 25, 2004 ... The Dominican superstars took special pride yesterday in leading the Red Sox to a 2-0 triumph over the Yankees in completing a crushing sweep of the defending American League champions before 55,338 in the Bronx. The three-game sweep was the first for the Sox over the Empire since Sept. 10-12, 1999, and it capped a rousing 10-day period in which the Sox won the first two series of a season against the Yankees for the first time since 1988.

Ramirez helped to secure Boston's grip on first place in the AL East and widen the gap between the Sox and the Yankees in the division to 4 1/2 games by providing Martinez all the support he needed with a jolting, two-run homer off Javier Vazquez in the fourth inning of the series finale. Vazquez, who otherwise pitched brilliantly on just three days of rest, made the mistake of walking Mark Bellhorn leading off the inning and hanging a breaking ball to Ramirez.  Ramirez belted a memorable shot into the Sox bullpen for his 20th home run in the stadium, matching Rafael Palmeiro for the most by an active opposing player.

Martinez, who is seven months older than Ramirez, made his contribution in his first appearance in the Bronx since the devastating loss last October in the AL Championship Series. No blown leads this time. Instead, Martinez blanked the Yankees on four hits and a walk over seven innings before he handed off to Scott Williamson, who shined in the eighth and ninth for his first save of the season. Martinez, who fanned seven, allowed four runners to reach second or third base but clamped down each time in his signature fashion. He stranded Alex Rodriguez at second base by striking out Gary Sheffield to end the fourth inning. He left Jorge Posada at third and Ruben Sierra at second by getting his personal nemesis, Enrique Wilson, to pop out before he fanned Derek Jeter in the fifth. And after A-Rod doubled with one out in the sixth, Martinez induced Jason Giambi to ground out and Sheffield to foul out, as the Yankees went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position.

The Sox ace was so sharp that he retired the Yankees in order on seven pitches in the seventh inning, ending with a pitch count of 105. Manager Terry Francona said he would have allowed Martinez to go deeper in the inning, but there was no need. As Martinez left the field, Curt Schilling and Francona were the first to greet him in the dugout and congratulate him.

Williamson was pretty sharp himself. In fact, he was all but untouchable, as the Yankees failed to get a ball out of the infield against him as they went down in order in the eighth and ninth. Williamson filled in for Keith Foulke, who had thrown 30 pitches the day before and was one of several Sox players coping with upper respiratory problems. A former closer for the Reds, Williamson said it felt good to return to the role, if only in a cameo. But he felt even better about the sweep.

Ellis Burks is expected to be placed on the disabled list as soon as today to undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair torn meniscus, or cartilage, in his left knee.  Burks, 39, was diagnosed last week with the injury but continued to play, going 1 for 4, scoring two runs, and stealing a base Friday against the Yankees and getting hit by a pitch as a pinch hitter Saturday in the Bronx. He suffered the injury when he slipped changing directions running between second and third base in spring training.  Burks received cortisone shots to relieve the swelling before he elected to undergo the surgery, which could sideline him at least four weeks. The Sox are expected to recall Brian Daubach from Triple A Pawtucket to replace Burks.