NEW YORK, 25 May 2004 — Tim Wakefield led the way as the Boston Red Sox eased past the Toronto Blue Jays 7-2 in the American League Sunday to sweep their three-game series.

It was the Red Sox’s seventh win in nine outings and kept them 1 1/2 games ahead of the New York Yankees at the top of the AL East Division.

Wakefield (4-2) scattered six hits, all singles, while striking out four batters in seven innings. Former Blue Jay Mike Timlin and Alan Embree closed out, neither allowing a hit. David Ortiz did most of the damage offensively, his three hits plating three runs. Johnny Damon, sporting a new, clean-shaven look, singled and sacrificed to score two more runs for host Boston.

“It scares me to look at my face in the mirror right now,” Damon told reporters.

Miguel Batista (2-4) took the loss, tagged with five runs in three innings. He walked six batters and allowed seven hits in his short stint.

In Arlington, Enrique Wilson homered and doubled to score three runs as the New York Yankees thumped the Rangers 8-3 to avoid being swept in Texas.

Former Ranger Alex Rodriguez collected two hits to raise his average to .292 but also struck out twice.

Javier Vazquez (4-4) gave up three runs on six hits over six innings for his first win since late April. Almost 150,000 fans watched the three-game series.

In Minneapolis, Carlos Lee collected four of Chicago’s 23 hits and drove in six runs as the White Sox destroyed the Minnesota Twins 17-7.

Teammate Aaron Rowand was almost as productive, belting a three-run homer and scoring four times. Jon Garland (4-2) overcame a shaky start to notch the victory.

In St. Petersburg, Tino Martinez singled with the bases full in the 10th inning to give the Tampa Bay Devil Rays a 5-4 win over the Cleveland Indians, who dropped their fifth straight game.

The victory gave Tampa its first four-game winning streak of the season. David Riske (0-2) took the loss while Travis Harper (1-0) worked three solid innings to earn the decision.

In Anaheim, Jose Guillen’s fourth-inning double plated three runs, carrying the Angels to an 8-3 triumph over the Baltimore Orioles and a sweep of their three-game series. Aaron Sele (3-0) worked the minimum five innings, scattering six hits and striking out three batters, for the victory.

In Seattle, the struggling Mariners staved off a three-game sweep by Detroit with a 3-1 win over the Tigers.

John Olerud had the game’s only home run, a solo shot. Freddy Garcia (2-3) worked seven innings for Seattle, allowing four hits while striking out seven.

In Oakland, Eric Byrnes’ 10th-inning bloop single scored the deciding run as the Athletics edged the Kansas City Royals 3-2 to complete a three-game sweep.

It was the 10th straight win for the A’s over the Royals. Arthur Rhodes (1-1) struck out two of the three batters he faced in the extra inning to earn the decision.