"It was only one game. But considering how bad Carl Crawford has been against left-handed pitchers this year, it was real progress.

Crawford's three-hit performance against Yankees ace CC Sabathia on Saturday was at least partly the result of hours of practice with hitting coach Dave Magadan, who worked with the left fielder on recognizing sliders in an attempt to boost what had been a woeful .144 average against southpaws.

"We talked about recognizing the ones he can swing at and swinging at them and then the ones he has to take that are in the dirt," Magadan said before last night's series finale, a 3-2 Sox winning in 10 innings at Fenway Park. "He was really good."

Magadan estimates Crawford took 60 swings against a pitching machine set to throw left-handed sliders from varying heights before Friday's series opener.

"About midway through, he started taking the ones that were bouncing or down in the zone," Magadan said. "The ones that were up he could put a good swing on. It's just like anything else. The more you practice something, the more it can transfer to the game."

Crawford had a hit in his lone at-bat against a lefty last night, a single in the sixth inning off Boone Logan.

Before last night's game, manager Terry Francona noted the contributions of his top four hitters, each of whom is coming off a serious injury in 2010.

First there's leadoff man Jacoby Ellsbury, who missed most of the year with broken ribs. Then there's Dustin Pedroia, who had a screw inserted in his broken foot. Batting third is Adrian Gonzalez, who underwent shoulder surgery. And finally there's cleanup hitter Kevin Youkilis, who had thumb surgery.

"They're having phenomenal years," Francona said. "I don't know where the year's going to end, but I don't think the fact that they're good players is going to go away. They've played a lot of, not just games, but innings."

The four have keyed the best offense in the majors, with each on pace to either score or drive in 100 runs. That's quite a change from where they were last year."