Boston won a series from New York after the All-Star break for the first time since 1999.

BOSTON (AP) – They rarely lack for hitting. Their pitching staff is anchored by one of the game’s best. And now the Boston Red Sox have shown that elusive intangible that always seems to escape them as summer turns to fall: The ability to stand up to the Yankees.

“They know we’re here,” manager Grady Little said late Sunday night after Boston rallied from a three-run deficit to beat New York 6-4 and take the three-game series. “And they know we’re not going away.”

After wasting another fine performance by ace Pedro Martinez to lose the series opener on Friday, the Red Sox won the next two games to pull within 1 games of New York in the AL East standings. Jason Varitek and Johnny Damon hit back-to-back homers, and Manny Ramirez made a sliding catch for the last out to send the Yankees back to New York, scratching their heads.

Although it was only a three-game series in July – the Red Sox have 58 games left – everything is magnified in the New York-Boston rivalry. That’s why Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was bothered enough to issue a statement on Monday.

“We didn’t play well in Boston, but I’m not getting down on anyone,” he said. “It’s a long season and a long way to go. They haven’t won anything yet.”

That’s true, but at least they haven’t lost it. And for the Red Sox and their psychologically fragile fans, the fact that the Yankees couldn’t put them away is something to celebrate.

“When you’re chasing your division leader, of course something like this is going to be uplifting,” Varitek said. “Just being able to come back in this game is huge, absolutely huge.”

Said second baseman Todd Walker: “It’s the difference between 3 out and 1 out. It would take two months to catch up with them from 3 games, so it was a big win.”

It was also Boston’s first series win against the Yankees in three tries this season, and the first time the Red Sox have taken a series from the Yankees after the All-Star break since 1999. New York has a 7-6 edge so far this season; the teams meet six more times – Aug. 29-31 at Fenway Park and Sept. 5-7 at Yankee Stadium.

“It’s going to be a dogfight all the way to the end,” New York manager Joe Torre said. “We obviously proved we play each other very even.”

For one weekend, at least.

The Red Sox staked Martinez to leads of 1-0 and 2-1 Friday night, but the Yankees came back each time and went ahead 3-2 on Bernie Williams’ RBI single in the seventh. Boston tied it 3-all before New York won it in the ninth on Derek Jeter’s sacrifice fly.

On Saturday, the Yankees rallied from a 4-0 deficit only to lose it in the ninth on David Ortiz’s single off the Green Monster.

But on Sunday, it was the Yankees’ bullpen that collapsed.

Chris Hammond faced two batters and allowed two home runs. Armando Benitez – the midseason addition who was going to solidify the New York bullpen – gave up Walker’s single; Jesse Orosco, signed in response to Boston’s trade for Scott Sauerbeck, gave up a two-run triple to Ortiz.

Just like that, the Red Sox went from a 3-0 deficit to a 6-3 lead.

And, just like that, the Red Sox went from the verge of mental, if not actual, desperation to making a statement about their resiliency.

“It’s good to come out with a win. It’s even better to win a series against the Yankees,” Damon said. “It shows everybody that we are for real. We won’t count ourselves out, even against the Yankees.

“We all feel like this is our time. We all feel like we’re going to get back to the playoffs and make things happen.”