NEW YORK (AFP) - John Olerud blasted a two-run home run as New York beat Boston 3-1, giving the Yankees a comfortable 2-0 American League Championship Series lead.
Jon Lieber also threw seven-plus suburb innings in just his second career playoff appearance.
"I was just trying to move the ball around, hit spots and hopefully get them to get themselves out," Lieber said.
Boston turned to New York nemesis Pedro Martinez (1-1) to draw even in the series following a shakey outing by Curt Schilling in the opening game.
The righthander came through with a solid effort, allowing three runs and four hits in six innings.
"We knew what we had to do against him and he wasn't giving an inch," said Yankees manager Joe Torre of Martinez. "You can't think big (hits) on Pedro."
But it was not enough to match Lieber (1-0), who limited Boston to two runners through six innings.
Lieber yielded one run and three hits with a walk and three strikeouts before being lifted in the eighth.
"To do that against a club like this makes it doubly impressive," Torre said.
Said Boston manager Terry Francona, "Their pitcher pounded the strike zone down, changed speeds and gave us a lot of different looks.
"We will regroup tomorrow and go home for three and see if we can get back in this."
Lieber was given a 1-0 lead after one inning before Olerud lined a 1-2 offering from Martinez over the right field wall with one on and one out in the sixth.
It was the veteran first baseman's ninth career playoff homer and sixth in LCS play.
Tom Gordon recorded two outs in the eighth before giving way to Mariano Rivera, who struck out three in 1 1/3 innings for his second save in as many days.
The series shifts to Boston for game three on Friday, when the Red Sox put their hopes in Bronson Arroyo, who will face veteran Kevin Brown.