Jorge Posada hit a two-run homer and A.J. Burnett came through with one of his best starts of the second half as the New York Yankees put a dent in Boston's playoff hopes with a 6-2 win over the visiting Red Sox on Sunday in the opener of a doubleheader. Boston took the nightcap, 7-4, in 14 innings to make its lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the wild-card race stand at one game at day's end.

The game one loss, combined with Tampa Bay's 5-2 win over Toronto, left the Red Sox just a half-game ahead of the Rays at the time.

Posada's blast to right field in the third inning off knuckleballer Tim Wakefield gave the Yankees a 4-0 lead after they opened the game in bizarre fashion, scoring twice in the first inning on two bunt singles, two stolen bases, a walk and two passed balls.

Burnett (11-11) took care of things from there, limiting Boston to a pair of Jacoby Ellsbury solo home runs over 7 2/3 sensational innings. The Yankees righthander came into the day 2-4 with a 7.43 ERA in 12 starts since the All-Star break.

Wakefield (7-8) was charged with five runs - three earned - on five hits with five walks. The 45-year-old now has 18 career losses to the Yankees, the most against any opponent.

Ellsbury's two round-trippers made him the first player in franchise history to have 30 homers and 30 stolen bases in the same season. The two RBIs also gave him a career-best 100 on the year.