Boston first baseman Kevin Youkilis tags out New York’s Derek Jeter during the third inning of yesterday’s game, concluding the series with the Yankees.

AP / Frank Franklin II

NEW YORK –– Sinatra was playing over the sound system yesterday, which meant the Yankees beat the Red Sox to avoid a sweep in the final regular-season game in Yankee Stadium in the storied rivalry.

New York won it in style with a walk-off hit by Jason Giambi for a 3-2 victory. Giambi, who was inserted into the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning and hit a two-run homer to tie the score at 2-2, had the bases loaded in the ninth when Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon entered the game.

Giambi scorched a liner to center field for the game-winning hit.

Afterwards, Papelbon wouldn’t talk. He just sat at a table in the visitor’s clubhouse with a piercing look. He didn’t speak with his teammates, and they stayed away from him.

As dramatic a game it was, and as difficult as it may have been for the Red Sox to lose in this fashion, the club had a solid 6-3 road trip and head back to Fenway Park tonight with a load of momentum.

“We played really good baseball,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “We played really good baseball today, too. We didn’t get a win, but we played real good baseball. I think everybody around here feels really good about our ball club. I think the players do. I do and Theo (Epstein) does.”

What makes this successful trip through Baltimore, Toronto and New York even more impressive is the fact that the Red Sox have a bunch of injuries.

Mike Lowell, J.D. Drew, David Aardsma and Julio Lugo are all on the disabled list. Josh Beckett has been pushed back three times now with elbow problems. Still, the Sox needed to have a successful trip and they did just that.

“It was big,” said the Sox’ Jason Bay of the three-city road trip. “It was against three big division opponents. We put ourselves in a position to sweep, but we can take solace [in] that we won the series. We had them up against the ropes and it would have been nice to finish it off. All in all, it was a pretty good road trip, especially against the teams we played. Now we get to go home where we’ve played well.”

Despite yesterday’s loss, Boston has won 8 of 12, and 10 of its last 15 road games. During that stretch, the Red Sox needed contributions from everyone and everyone contributed.

“We had a good road trip,” said Kevin Youkilis. “Our goal is to win series and we won two series on the road. Everyone wants to win every game we play, but it’s not going to happen. So, if we can win every series from here on out, we’re going to put ourselves in a great position to make a push for the playoffs.”

Yesterday was the 773rd time the clubs have played each other in the regular season. The players weren’t too concerned about the nostalgia; they just wanted a sweep.

The media “is more wrapped up in that than the players,” Youkilis said. “We just want to win ball games, and we wanted to win today.”

Before Giambi displayed his heroics, it was a pitcher’s duel.

Because the Yankees’ Mike Mussina and the Sox’ Jon Lester were so efficient, there wasn’t much scoring from either club.

The Red Sox finally scored a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning thanks in part to the speed of Jacoby Ellsbury. Boston gained a 1-0 lead when Jason Varitek provided a RBI single before Ellsbury stepped into the batter’s box with one out and runners on the corners.

Ellsbury hit a chopper up the middle that was gloved by Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, who flipped the ball to Derek Jeter in an attempt to turn a double play.

But Jeter’s throw was not in time as Ellsbury reached safely, allowing Cora to score from third for a 2-0 lead.

Lester kept New York’s offense at bay until the seventh inning.

The southpaw allowed a two-out double to Cody Ransom before Lester was lifted and replaced by Hideki Okajima. The left-handed reliever quickly surrendered a pinch-hit two-run homer to Giambi that made it 2-2. The ball Giambi hit for his 27th homer of the season was crushed to deep center field.

It wouldn’t be the last time Giambi would hurt the Red Sox. He stepped to the plate again in the ninth and delivered his game-winning hit.

Boston will play 20 of its final 29 games of the regular season at Fenway Park and the goal is simple.

They want to win the AL East, and this recent road trip helped push them in the right direction.

jmcdonal@projo.com