BOSTON (AP) – The Boston Red Sox did their slugging only with their bats Sunday night.

Kevin Millar homered and drove in four runs in a 9-6 win over the New York Yankees, a day after a bench-clearing brawl.

The victory was a treat for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch then stood and cheered several times as he watched his home-state team from a box next to the Red Sox dugout.

Derek Lowe (9-9) pitched one of his best games in a subpar season, helping the Red Sox take two of three in the series and pull to 71/2 games behind the AL East-leading Yankees. Boston leads the season series 8-5 with six games remaining.

Asked before the game if Saturday’s brawl involving New York’s Alex Rodriguez and Boston catcher Jason Varitek reminded him of politicians’ behavior, Kerry said with a smile, “Don’t we do that every day?”

Rodriguez and Varitek were ejected during Boston’s 11-10 win Saturday after A-Rod was hit by a pitch by Bronson Arroyo in the third inning. After what Varitek said were some “choice words,” the catcher pushed Rodriguez in the face, bringing both teams out of their dugouts. Outfielders Gabe Kapler of Boston and Kenny Lofton of New York also were ejected.

Varitek was out of the lineup Sunday with a sore right wrist, an injury he thinks he might have gotten during the fight. He said he could have played if necessary.

Millar went 10-for-13 in the series with four homers and eight RBIs after hitting six homers with 24 RBIs in 87 games. Millar and Mark Bellhorn hit solo shots and Johnny Damon added a three-run homer.

Jose Contreras (8-4) struggled again against the Red Sox, allowing eighth runs in 5 1-3 innings. He fell to Contreras fell to 0-4 in his career against Boston.

There were three hit batsmen Sunday, New York’s Jorge Posada in the first and Boston’s Doug Mirabelli and Millar in the second.

After Millar was hit, home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt warned Contreras and both dugouts then talked with Yankees manager Joe Torre near the plate. All three runners went to first base without incident.

Hideki Matsui’s fourth career grand slam cut the lead to 9-6 in the seventh against Mike Timlin, but the Yankees wasted an opportunity in the eighth with one out and runners at second and third.

Derek Jeter lined the ball off Keith Foulke’s leg. It bounced to Mirabelli whose throw to first hit Jeter as Enrique Wilson crossed the plate.

Wendelstedt ruled Jeter out for running inside the baseline and Wilson returned to third. Gary Sheffield then lined out to left-fielder Manny Ramirez.

Foulke, who gave up the winning run in the ninth Friday, then pitched a perfect ninth for his 16th save in 21 chances.

The Yankees led 2-0 in the first on Sheffield’s RBI single and Matsui’s sacrifice fly. The Red Sox tied it in the bottom half on Millar’s two-run single.

Boston made it 6-2 in the second, scoring four runs with no outs. Mirabelli was hit by a pitch, Kapler singled, Damon hit his 13th homer of the year off the right-field pole and Bellhorn hit his 12th.

Millar, who had three homers Friday, hit his 11th in the fifth and Boston made it 9-2 in the sixth on David Ortiz’s RBI double and Millar’s run-scoring single.

Notes:Kerry was among at least five U.S. senators at the game and sat next to former Sen. John Glenn. … New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick also attended. … Contreras allowed eight earned runs in 5 1-3 innings after giving up three in his previous 21 2-3. … Lowe allowed two unearned runs, giving him a major league-high 23 this season.

AP-ES-07-26-04 0009EDT