Yankees blank Red Sox for sixth successive win

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Yankees streaked to their sixth consecutive win, shutting out the slumping Boston Red Sox 5-0 behind CC Sabathia's strong pitching on Saturday.

Sabathia (12-7) did not allow a hit until the sixth inning and held the Red Sox to just two hits, both singles, before departing in the eighth. He struck out nine and walked two.

Jacoby Ellsbury broke up the left-hander's bid for a no-hitter with a two-out single. Kevin Youkilis added the other single in the seventh.

"I would have to say, as good as he's been, I can't think of any time he's been better," the Yankees' Derek Jeter, who had a two-run homer in the eighth, told reporters.

Sabathia, who signed a seven-year, $161 million deal with the Yankees, left to a standing ovation.

"It was unbelievable," Sabathia said. "I had goose bumps walking off. To be in a big series, playing Boston here in New York, it was unbelievable to get that kind of ovation."

The victory, coming on the heels of a 2-0, 15-inning triumph Friday, was the New Yorkers' third in a row over Boston and boosted their American League East lead over the visitors to five and a half games.

The rivals meet again Sunday with Boston trying to end a five-game skid.

New York collected single runs in the third, sixth and seventh inning before Jeter teed off with his homer in the eighth.

Loser Clay Buchholz (1-2) gave up six hits and two runs over six innings.

Red Sox reliever Ramon Ramirez was ejected in the seventh inning after hitting Alex Rodriguez's upper back with a fastball. Home-plate umpire Jim Joyce warned both teams.

Boston had gone 8-0 in games this season against New York before the Yankees bounced back in the current series, holding the Red Sox scoreless for the last 24 innings.

"Our pitchers have done a wonderful job," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "You just hope that you can continue to do it against a very tough club."

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina. Editing by Ian Ransom)