Gary Sheffield and Tony Clark each drove in two runs during a seven-run second inning, and the Yankees completed a doubleheader sweep of the sinking Tampa Bay Devil Rays with a 10-5 victory last night.

The Yankees won all four games in the rain-shortened series and have won five in a row overall. They extended their AL East lead over Boston by at least a half-game, the first time they’ve increased the margin at all since August 23.

Mike Mussina threw eight sharp innings in a 9-1 victory in the opener, which started with just a few hundred fans in the stands. Yankee Stadium filled up a bit more for the nightcap, with the paid attendance announced as 41,230.

The teams played two games because Wednesday’s doubleheader was rained out. The first game Wednesday was supposed to be a makeup of Monday’s doubleheader that was changed to a single night game when Tampa was unable to get to New York in time for Game 1 due to Hurricane Frances.

It was still uncertain when or if the unplayed game would be made up.

Tanyon Sturtze (6-2) took over for starter Brad Halsey in the fourth inning of the nightcap and allowed two hits and walked one in 3 2 /3 scoreless innings to earn the win.

Halsey allowed three runs and seven hits in 3 2 /3 innings.

John Flaherty and Derek Jeter homered for the Yankees, who outscored the Devil Rays 19-6 in the doubleheader. Jeter was 5-for-9 with a homer and three RBIs in the two games.

B.J. Upton homered in the second game for the Devil Rays, who have lost a season-high 11 straight.

After Upton gave the Devil Rays a 1-0 lead in the first, the Yankees broke it open against Rob Bell (6-8) in the second, scoring seven times on eight hits.

Hideki Matsui, 4-for-8 with a walk and three RBI in the doubleheader, and Bernie Williams led off with singles. Ruben Sierra had an RBI double and Clark followed with a two-run single to make it 3-1. One out later, Jeter hit an RBI double to give the Yankees a 4-1 lead. After Rodriguez grounded out, Sheffield hit a two-run single and ended Bell’s night.

John Halama came in and gave up an RBI double to Matsui – his second hit of the inning, making it 7-1.

Bell allowed seven runs – four earned – and seven hits in 1 2 /3 innings.

The Devil Rays got two runs back in the third on Aubrey Huff’s fielder’s choice and Jose Cruz Jr.’s RBI double.

Flaherty homered leading off the sixth against Halama, making it 8-3. One out later, Jeter hit his 19th homer off Jesus Colome to give the Yankees a 9-3 lead. Flaherty added an RBI single in the seventh. In the first game, Mussina (10-9) allowed one run, four hits, and struck out six for his first win since June 27. Rodriguez, Sheffield, and Matsui each drove in two runs as the Yankees used 12 hits to rout Tampa Bay. The Yankees scoried three runs in the first against Dewon Brazelton (6-7) Brazelton allowed seven runs and nine hits in three-plus innings.