Yanks flash power, rout sliding Sox

NEW YORK— Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson, Russell Martin and Mark Teixeira stepped up the plate, sent the ball over the wall and circled the bases like a conga line in a nine-run second inning.

With record-tying power backing a superb start by CC Sabathia, the New York Yankees have first place all to themselves with two games to go and hope they’ll have a real party before this series against the Boston Red Sox is over.

“That’s what you want,” manager Joe Girardi said Monday night after the Yankees routed Boston 10-2 to open a one-game lead over Baltimore in the AL East. “That’s what you hope that you have all the time when you’re playing this game, that you can control your own destiny.”

New York (93-67) would ensure its 13th division title in 17 years by sweeping the three-game series against the Red Sox. Baltimore (9268) lost 5-3 at Tampa Bay and dropped into second place, prompting cheers from the Yankee Stadium crowd of 45,478 when the final score was posted just before the ninth.

New York tied its record for home runs in an inning, achieving the feat for the third time. Sabathia (15-6) allowed two runs and four hits in eight innings with seven strikeouts and a walk.

Boston, starting what may be its final series under manager Bobby Valentine, has lost 10 of 11, reaching 91losses for the first time since1965.