Yankees Blast Josh Beckett, Red Sox In Series Opener

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Nick Swisher clubbed a three-run homer while Marcus Thames knocked in a pair of runs as the New York Yankees ripped Boston, 10-3, in the opener of a three-game series from Fenway Park.

Alex Rodriguez contributed a pair of hits, an RBI and scored twice for the Yankees, who have won five in a row and eight of their last nine.

Randy Winn collected two hits, scored two runs and also knocked in one to back Phil Hughes (4-0), who allowed seven hits and two runs over seven innings.

David Ortiz drove in two runs and J.D. Drew hit safely twice and scored twice for the Red Sox, who couldn't carry over the momentum of a four-game home sweep over the Angels during the week.

Josh Beckett (1-1) was torched in his first setback of the season for nine hits and nine runs in 5 1/3 innings, and despite fanning eight he walked three and hit two batters.

New York broke a scoreless deadlock in the fourth as Mark Teixeira walked with one out, Rodriguez singled and after Robinson Cano's strikeout, Swisher blasted a pitch to dead center. Though Brett Gardner and Francisco Cervelli followed with base hits, Winn grounded back to Beckett for an easy out to end the rally.

Boston countered in the home half on back-to-back singles from Drew and Kevin Youkilis for men on the corners, followed by an Ortiz sacrifice fly.

The Yankees pushed across six more runs in the sixth. A double, hit-by-pitch and intentional walk loaded the bases with one out, then Cervelli drew a walk to force in a run. Winn added an RBI single, then Derek Jeter was plunked to force in another run. Thames' infield single made it 7-1, then Teixeira dumped a hit to right to bring in Winn and chase Beckett.

Hideki Okajima entered only to give up a sac fly to Rodriguez before getting Ramiro Pena on strikes to end the inning.

Ortiz smacked a one-out RBI single in the home half but Thames's fly ball to center in the eighth scored Winn for a 10-2 game. Jonathan Van Every drew a one-out walk in the home half then scored on an Adrian Beltre single.

Boone Logan turned in a scoreless ninth to cap the rout.

Jeter passed Lou Gehrig for second place on the Yankees' all-time games-played list with 2,165...Only Mickey Mantle played more at 2,401...The Red Sox fell to 9-5 at home against the Yankees since September, 2008...Designated hitter Nick Johnson left the game in the sixth inning with an apparent wrist injury, and Cano left at that time with a left-knee injury...Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek left the game late with an apparent arm injury...Game time was 3:01, the shortest of four matchups between the clubs this season.