NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Yankees avoided elimination from the playoffs with an 8-4 home victory over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday, while AL East rivals the Boston Red Sox eased past the Los Angeles Angels with a three-game sweep.

Johnny Damon belted a three-run homer as New York roared back from two straight losses in Cleveland to pull back to 2-1 in the best-of-five divisional series and help ease the pressure on veteran manager Joe Torre.

In an interview published earlier in the day, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said Torre would not return next season if New York were eliminated.

"We know our backs are up against the wall," Damon told reporters.

"There's a lot on the line. We're playing for the manager we love."
Game Four is in New York on Monday.

Damon's three-run homer capped a four-run fifth inning that gave the Yankees a 5-3 lead.

"Johnny is such a good pressure guy. He has a very clear mind, he has a plan," Torre said, describing how Damon looked for a pitch to drive after Cleveland starter Jake Westbrook fell behind him 2-0 in the count with two men on base.

"He's been huge."

Damon finished the game with three hits and four runs batted in as the New York offense finally awoke.

The Yankees, who had hit .121 in the series coming into the game, erupted for 11 hits to support winning pitcher Phil Hughes, who took over from starter Roger Clemens.

Clemens left in the third inning with a strained hamstring after giving up three runs.
The rookie Hughes pitched three and two-thirds innings, giving up two hits and striking out four.

"He was huge for them," Indians manager Eric Wedge said.
"He had a live fastball, a tough breaking ball and started mixing a change-up in. The kid showed a lot of poise."

SCHILLING CONTROLS

Curt Schilling pitched seven shutout innings and David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez hit consecutive home runs to power the Red Sox to a 9-1 road win that booked a berth in the American League Championship Series against either the Indians or the Yankees.

The 40-year-old Schilling improved to 9-1 in his last 13 post-season starts as the East Division champion Red Sox eliminated the West Division-winning Angels in three games.

Schilling struck out four and gave up six hits.

"We're trying to win the games," Schilling told reporters.

"Whatever I can do in the mix, it makes you feel good to contribute. How you do it is not really relevant anymore to me."

Ortiz broke a scoreless tie with his fourth-inning homer off the Angels's Jared Weaver and Ramirez followed with a blast of his own.

The homer tied Ramirez with Bernie Williams for the most career post-season home runs. Both have 22.

Boston then scored seven runs in the eighth inning to put the game out of reach.

The loss was the ninth straight in post-season play by the Angels to Boston.

Ortiz and Ramirez combined to get on base 19 times in the three games with the Angels, including two home runs apiece.

"Everything is coming together at just the right time," Ortiz said.

Schilling said he also saw improvement from Ramirez.

"He's seeing the ball well," Schilling said, noting that had not been the case during the regular season.

"He never felt good," Schilling said. "He never felt right... (Now) he looks very confident at the plate."