Yanks show modern version of Murderers Row

Bernie Williams went 4-for-6, including this ninth-inning double that broke three LCS records. AP

BOSTON (AP) -- Four shots cleared the fence, a couple of drives bonked off the Green Monster and a bunch of liners sailed into the gaps.

The New York Yankees spent a record-setting night bashing balls into every corner of cozy Fenway Park. Call them the modern version of Murderer's Row.

"The Bronx Bombers. You have to bring that T-shirt back out," said former slugger Reggie Jackson, now a Yankees special adviser.

Hideki Matsui, Gary Sheffield and Alex Rodriguez led an offensive onslaught that carried New York to a 19-8 blowout of the Boston Red Sox on Saturday night and a stunning 3-0 lead in the AL championship series.

One more victory Sunday and what a sweet sweep it would be.

Credit this win to an unstoppable offense. Derek Jeter said games at Fenway Park are like playing "arena baseball," and his teammates showed everyone exactly what he meant.

"These guys played nine innings tonight and they got the most out of every at-bat and I could not have been more proud of them," manager Joe Torre said.

Matsui homered twice, doubled twice, and finished with five hits and five RBIs, tying ALCS records. He and Rodriguez each scored five times, matching a postseason mark.

Matsui is batting .600 with 10 RBIs in the series. He also knocked in five runs during a 10-7 victory in the opener Tuesday night.

"Cool under pressure, and I think that's probably the most important ingredient," Torre said. "We all know he's talented, we all know he's strong. He never gives away an at-bat."

Matsui has some competition for MVP honors because Sheffield is batting .692 in the series after going 4-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs.

Bernie Williams went 4-for-6 with three RBIs, and New York's Nos. 2-5 hitters finished 16-for-22 with 15 RBIs and 14 runs.

The team's 22 hits broke the ALCS record set by Boston against the Yankees on Oct. 16, 1999, also at Fenway. New York had eight doubles, a triple and four homers.

Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and the rest of the Yankees' famous Murderers' Row lineup from 1927 would be proud.

"I'm not surprised the way our ballclub is playing, but no question, you can't expect to go in against the Red Sox and do -- especially what we did tonight," Torre said.

Rodriguez led off the third and sent a drive over The Wall, tying it at 4.

"We wanted to make sure we answered back in that inning," Rodriguez said. "We knew it was going to take at least 10 runs to win the game at that point. So we just kind of got some momentum back."

And they never stopped hitting, flying right past 10 runs on the way to a league championship series record of 19, the second-highest total in postseason history. Boston beat Cleveland 23-7 in Game 4 of the 1999 division series.

Sheffield's three-run shot off Curtis Leskanic in the fourth gave the Yankees a 9-6 lead, and Ruben Sierra added a two-run triple later in the inning.

"I was just so focused on keeping the scoring going," Sheffield said. "I thought they'd keep scoring. Once we got the five-run lead, I thought we could blow this game out."

That's exactly what happened. Boston started the game with Bronson Arroyo on the mound, but he lasted just two-plus innings. The five relievers who followed fared no better.

"I thought we swung the bats very well tonight, very well. Just not quite like they did," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "None of our pitchers located."

Williams now has 47 career hits in league championship series play, breaking Pete Rose's record of 45. He also has 29 RBIs in the LCS, surpassing David Justice's record of 27.

"We were swinging the bats pretty well at home. Now we're swinging them well here. Even our outs are hard," Jeter said.