BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox left Fenway Park last night with their shovels and bags of lime.

The mob of ballplayers from New England is heading to New York to face the Yankees in a three-game set and the Sox are looking to bury the boys from the Bronx without a trace.

Sure, the Red Sox players would never say that publicly, especially since it’s only May 21. But the fact of the matter is that this club has been playing great baseball and has been paying very close attention to its 10½-game lead in the American League East.

The Sox were leaving the clubhouse after their 6-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves just as the Yankees and Mets were getting under way in their interleague game with many of the Boston players watching the television.

Yeah, right. It’s just another series.

The Red Sox head to New York with their largest advantage this early in the season in some time, and while the Boston players are careful when choosing their words, when it comes to the heated rivalry, having a comfortable lead is a somewhat weird.

“A little bit, to tell you the truth,” said Red Sox infielder Alex Cora. “But I’m not surprised at how we’re playing baseball. We have very professional approach, and that’s how we do it: pitch-by-pitch and all those clichés.”

As usual, Red Sox manager Terry Francona was bombarded with questions about the next series, mostly from the visiting New York media in Boston for yesterday’s game. Of course, prior to the Red Sox’ victory over the Braves, Francona was asked about New York, and he brushed the questions aside, saying his club was concentrating on the task at hand.

So, after the game and a couple of game-related questions, he was asked again about the next series.

“I was waiting for that question,” he said. “I view it like we would like to win [today]. That’s how we feel. I don’t know about the pouncing part; we’re just going to try to win [today].”

Pressed further about the New York series, the Red Sox manager really wanted to make his general points quite clear.

“Maybe I’m not explaining myself good,” he responded. “We try to always have the same outlook. When you’re not playing well, you try to keep the same atmosphere, and when you’re playing well we try not to ride that roller coaster. . . . When I say ‘even-keel,’ I don’t mean boring or blah — just try to stay upbeat and enjoy playing the game correctly all the time.”

Realistically, if the Red Sox are able to sweep the stumbling Yankees or even just win the series, there could be some changes coming for New York.

Still, Boston knows exactly how quickly things can change.

“To us, a cushion doesn’t really matter at all,” said Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon. “If we’re 10 games up or 10 games down, we play these games with the same intensity; that’s how it works.”

The Red Sox’ pitching staff certainly matches up well against the Yankees once-potent lineup. Boston’s rotation for the next three days will be Tim Wakefield, Julian Tavarez and Curt Schilling, but it will be the Sox’ bullpen that will be crucial in New York, especially the left-handers against a mostly left-handed hitting staff.

On the offensive side, the Red Sox have used just about every resource available this season to bust out to a 30-13 record, and that’s without the club’s full potential yet to be seen.

“Distance to me does not matter,” said Youkilis of the team’s lead. “If we’re 10½ games ahead and we’re clinching, it’s a great thing. But it’s still May and it’s a very long season.”

Ironically, the soundtrack from the movie The Departed was playing in the ninth inning last night as the Red Sox finished off the Braves and were finally able to set their sights on the Yankees.

“Win,” said Red Sox slugger David Ortiz. “We can’t worry about nothing else but keep winning.”

jmcdonal@projo.com