The Boston Red Sox outscored the New York Yankees 10-8 on Friday, dumping their archrivals out of first place in their American League East division battle with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Three-run homers by shortstop Jed Lowrie and left-fielder Bill Hall paced a 14-hit attack that spoiled the second start by lefty Andy Pettitte since he returned to action after suffering a groin injury.
The Yankees battled back from a 10-1 deficit with a power barrage of six home runs, including two each from Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira, who homered in the ninth off Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon, but fell short.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“You hit six home runs and lose?” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “It’s hard to believe.”
Pettitte, counted on to help anchor the Yankees pitching rotation in the post-season, lacked zip on his fastball and placement of his pitches as he allowed seven runs on 10 hits in three-and-a-third innings.
“It’s not what you want to see, but I believe in Andy and I believe his next start, he’ll bounce back and be very good,” Girardi said.
The Red Sox, hanging on to slender hopes of a wild-card berth, scored three runs in the second inning, four in the fourth and three more in the fifth for a 10-1 lead.
New York showed some fight, responding with homers from Curtis Granderson, Nick Swisher and the twin blasts from A-Rod and Teixeira, who brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but Papelbon struck out Robinson Cano to end the game.
It was the third straight loss for the Yankees, who dropped their last two games against the Rays.
A-Rod’s two homers increased his career total to 610, putting him one ahead of Sammy Sosa and into sixth place on the all-time home run list.
Next target on the list for Rodriguez is his former Seattle teammate Ken Griffey Jr at 630, followed by Willie Mays (660), Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and Barry Bonds (762).
Boston right-hander Josh Beckett earned the win to improve to 6-5 and Papelbon notched his 37th save, while Pettitte slipped to 11-3 as New York (92-62) moved a half game behind Tampa Bay (92-61). The Red Sox boosted their record to 85-68.
“It’s frustrating,” Pettitte said. “I had an opportunity to try and keep us close. I didn’t do that tonight and we still had a chance. The guys battled their tails off. That makes it hurt even worse, to go all the way to the ninth inning with the tying run to the plate after we’d given up 10. I’m extremely disappointed.”
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