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BOSTON (Ticker) -- In a weekend of strong pitching, Frank Castillo turned in the best performance.

Castillo tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and outdueling prized free agent signee Mike Mussina as the Boston Red Sox topped the New York Yankees, 4-1, in a Patriots' Day affair at Fenway Park.

The bitter American League East Division rivals combined for just 24 runs in the four-game set, with the Red Sox winning three times. The only game they lost was on Saturday, when two-time defending Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez was their starter.

"That was four tough games with both teams pitching very well," Red Sox manager Jimy Williams said. "They've got a tough lineup and our relievers pitched outstanding this entire series."

On Monday, Castillo (1-1), Pete Schourek, Tim Wakefield and Rod Beck combined to allow just five hits to the three-time defending world champions. New York's only run came when Tino Martinez hit his second homer of the season off Schourek in the eighth.

"They are a scrappy club that gets good defense, good pitching and they find a way to score runs," Tino Martinez said. "They battle."

Beck became the third member of the Red Sox to earn a save this season, striking out Jorge Posada for the game's final out as Boston spoiled the Yankees' first Patriots' Day visit to Fenway since 1975.

It was Beck's first save since September 12, 1999 in New York.

Scott Brosius had three singles to extend his career-high hitting streak to 13 games. But the Yankees were kept off balance all afternoon by Castillo, a journeyman righthander who had allowed four runs in just 3 2/3 innings in his last start.

"I had a good cutter at the beginning and I was able to pitch inside," he said. "I had a good changeup and I was able to make good pitches, the ones I wanted."

Castillo struck out two without walking a batter. He threw 45 of 65 pitches for strikes as the Red Sox held the Yankees in check for the fourth straight day. Boston yielded just 11 runs in the series.

"I felt strong all game and I felt like I could go another inning," Catillo said. "But Jimy has a lot of confidence in the bullpen and I can't blame him."

"I just felt like it was the right time to do it," Williams added. "We had the lefties coming up and I didn't really see any problems."

The Red Sox scored single runs in the first, fifth, seventh and eighth innings.

The seventh-inning run hurt the Yankees the most, as they seemed to still be in the game, down 2-0. Brian Daubach led off the frame with a double off the "Green Monster" in left field and Lou Merloni put down a sacrifice.

Mussina fielded the bunt and threw wildly to second baseman Alfonso Soriano, who was covering first. Soriano, a rookie second baseman who was converted from shortstop, was unable to knock down the throw, allowing Daubach to race home.

After Martinez' homer in the top of the eighth, a groundout by rookie Shea Hillenbrand in the bottom of the inning essentially put the game out of reach.

In the series, the Red Sox won games started by New York starters Orlando Hernandez, Andy Pettitte and Mussina.

"They are great pitchers," Boston catcher Jason Varitek said. "You need breaks when you face great pitching. We had some breaks today, but we have also gone up there being aggressive and constantly putting pressure on them."

Mussina (1-1) suffered his first loss in a Yankees uniform, allowing three runs and eight hits in seven innings. He struck out six with no walks.

"Today we couldn't come up with any kind of offensive attack," Mussina said. "They are throwing the ball well and that's what lets them win ballgames."

"We didn't hit, that's the bottom line," Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter said. "Except for Brosius, we didn't swing the bat very well."