Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Derek Jeter's infield single in the top of the 10th brought in the deciding run, as the New York Yankees moved to a game up in the AL East with a 6-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a doubleheader from Fenway Park.
In Progress: Yankees Look To Continue March Towards AL East Title With Fenway Doubleheader
Tampa Bay closed the gap to a half-game with a 4-0 victory at Kansas City later Saturday, but New York’s result in the back end of the twinbill will change that margin again.
Robinson Cano finished 3-for-5 with a homer, two doubles and drove in two runs for the Yankees, who picked up RBI from Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez.
Phil Hughes (18-8) got the win with a scoreless inning of relief. Mariano Rivera picked up his 33rd save by holding off the Sox in their last at-bat.
Mike Lowell was 2-for-2 with a two-run double and scored once, while Daniel Nava drove in a run. Jed Lowrie and Bill Hall collected two hits each for the Red Sox, who slid to their fourth straight defeat.
Jonathan Papelbon (5-7) took the loss after being charged with the winning run over his one frame on the hill.
Papelbon began the 10th by walking Brett Gardner, who moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored when Jeter's check swing eluded Papelbon and deflected off Hall's glove.
Rivera locked down the win by retiring the side in order in the bottom of the inning.
The Sox got on the board in the first with a two-out rally. Victor Martinez singled and David Ortiz walked before Lowell hit a two-run double over Nick Swisher's head in right.
Jeter led off the third with a walk and motored home on a triple from Granderson. After Teixeira grounded out, a Rodriguez grounder tied the game. Cano followed with a solo homer to right and New York was ahead 3-2.
In the home half, Lowell walked, moved to third on a single from Hall and came in on a Nava base hit.
New York jumped on top once more in the fifth, as Granderson worked a leadoff walk then scored when Teixeira followed with a double. Two batters later, a Cano double plated Teixeira.
Yanks starter Andy Pettitte was pulled after a leadoff single from Lowell in the home fifth, but David Robertson loaded the bases on a pair of walks before fanning Darnell McDonald to end the threat.
Boston cut its deficit to 5-4 in the seventh. Lars Anderson walked, then Joba Chamberlain entered only to give up a single to Hall. A wild pitch plated Anderson and advanced Hall to second, but Chamberlain retired the next three batters.
The Yanks wasted a chance to extend their lead in the eighth as Rodriguez flied out with the bases loaded, and the Sox made them pay in the home half. Kerry Wood loaded the bases on walks to Lowrie, Martinez and Ortiz, then a wild pitch brought in pinch-runner Eric Patterson with the tying run. However, pinch-runner Josh Reddick was tagged out trying to score on the play.
Boston starter Tim Wakefield pitched five innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks...The Yankees hold the second-best road record in the American League at 43-36 (Tampa ranks first)...Prior to the contest, the Red Sox honored Lowell, who will retire following the end of the regular season. The 36-year-old spent five years with the BoSox and, entering play Saturday, hit .289 with 80 home runs and 372 RBI in 611 games. He was the World Series MVP when Boston won the title in 2007.
See More:
