Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez was hit three times, tying the major league record, and the teams combined for seven hit batsmen total, matching a modern big league mark, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The Yankees, who have scored two runs or fewer in five of their past seven games, took the lead in the second inning. With two outs and Jason Giambi on first, Robinson Cano lined a single into center field and Cabrera grounded Masterson’s next pitch into right.

J.D. Drew came up throwing but Giambi got his left hand on the back edge of the plate with a nifty slide past Varitek.

New York loaded the bases in the third but Masterson struck out Giambi and Pedroia made a nice play on Wilson Betemit’s grounder to end the inning. Kevin Youkilis also snared Giambi’s liner up the first-base line with two outs and a runner on third in the fifth.

Mussina got some help from his defense, too. Gardner threw out Pedroia trying to stretch a first-inning single to left, and Cabrera made a diving catch in center to take a hit away from Lowell with a runner on first and no outs in the fourth.

Jose Molina, who threw out three Red Sox baserunners trying to steal second in Boston’s 6-4 win Friday, cut down speedy Jacoby Ellsbury trying to swipe second in the fifth.

New York played without outfielder Johnny Damon, who injured his left shoulder trying to haul in Youkilis’ triple in Saturday’s loss. Damon lost Youkilis’ drive when he crashed into the left-field fence, and the ball rested on the fence briefly before rolling back onto the field.

Damon said he felt better and would know more Sunday about whether he can avoid going on the disabled list for the first time in his 14-season major league career.

Notes: Francona on picking the team for the All-Star game: “I think we owe it to the players for it to be agonizing, and it has been.” ... Yankees C Jorge Posada got the day off. Girardi said Posada wasn’t feeling well, hampered by a cold that’s going around the team. ... Girardi said OF Hideki Matsui (left knee) probably will be evaluated on Tuesday. ... Seen in the crowd: Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash and talk show host Jerry Springer.

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