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NEW YORK -- The Boss has a message for Boston: Don't celebrate just yet.

New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was bothered enough after his team lost two straight games against the Red Sox to issue a statement Monday about the series.

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

The Yankees won the opener of the three-game series, but the Red Sox came back with wins Saturday and Sunday to cut New York's lead in the AL East to 1½ games.

Earlier this month, the Yankees and Red Sox split a four-game series. Steinbrenner cried tears of joy when New York beat Boston after Red Sox starter Pedro Martinez hit Alfonso Soriano and Derek Jeter, the first two batters.

"I don't know what was going through his mind, but if it's what it looked like, it's not good," Steinbrenner said at the time. "It's not good for his team, not good for baseball."

Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press