Pedroia, Red Sox blast Yankees 11-3

Boston Red Sox batter Dustin Pedroia (R) passes New York Yankees catcher Ivan Rodriguez (C) to shake hands with runners Jacoby Ellsbury (46) and Coco Crisp at home plate after he hit a grand slam home run in the seventh inning of their MLB American League baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, August 28, 2008. (REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine)

NEW YORK (Reuters) The Boston Red Sox further slammed the slim playoff hopes of the New York Yankees on Wednesday, routing them 11-3 at Yankee Stadium for a second straight win.

Second baseman Dustin Pedroia went 3-for-5 with a grand slam during the Red Sox seven-run eighth inning to lead his team past New York for the second night in a row.

The Yankees (70-62) came into the three-game series needing a good showing in order to keep pace in the American League Wildcard race, but the two straight losses have dropped them seven games behind race-leading Boston (77-55).

Reliever Jose Veras allowed five runs in 1/3 inning during the eighth as the Red Sox put the game out of reach.

Jason Bay continued his solid play since being traded to Boston for Manny Ramirez last month, going 2-for-4 with four RBIs.

His two-run double in the first gave the Red Sox an early 2-0 edge over the Yankees and starter Sidney Ponson, who lasted just 4 2/3 innings.

Red Sox starter Paul Byrd picked up the victory in a six-inning effort that saw the right-hander allow two runs.

Boston (77-55) will shoot for the series sweep on Thursday with starting pitcher Jon Lester (12-5) on the mound.

(Reporting by Jahmal Corner, editing by N.Ananthanarayanan)