Ramirez hit a three-run homer in the first inning and the Boston Red Sox jumped on Mike Mussina right away, knocking back the Yankees again with a 7-3 victory.

Mike Lowell also connected and Julian Tavarez won on his 34th birthday, helping the AL East leaders beat their top rivals for the sixth time in eight tries this season.

"Once I saw Manny hit the three-run homer, I knew it was going to be a good night," Tavarez said.

One night after losing the series opener, Boston re-established a 10-game cushion over the Yankees. The Red Sox have won eight of 10 meetings starting Sept. 17 last year and are 9-3 against New York since a five-game sweep at Fenway Park in August sent the Yankees on the way to their ninth straight division title.

Curt Schilling pitches tomorrow night for Boston in the rubber game against Andy Pettitte, and the Yankees might hear another critique from owner George Steinbrenner afterward.

"He's waiting out this series, I think," spokesman Howard Rubenstein said.

New York (20-24), which managed only four hits, has lost its past three series and eight of 12 games overall.

"You really have to think in terms of winning series, and certainly the pressure is on us to do that tomorrow," Yankees manager Joe Torre said.