NEW YORK - In the opener of a big showdown series, the Yankees flexed their muscles and cranked out four homers to pin a one-sided 8-1 defeat on the Red Sox, snapping Boston's four-game winning streak.
The Yanks led 2-0 when rookie third baseman Miguel Andujar blasted a two-run homer to left. Greg Bird followed with a solo shot and the rout was on.
Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez was cuffed around for four extra base hits six innings and lost his second straight start. In six previous career starts at Yankee Stadium before Friday night , he had allowed just nine earned runs; in the fourth inning alone, he yielded four.
The power game didn't stop after Rodriguez left. Reliever Justin Haley gave up a two-run belt to Aaron Judge in the seventh and a second solo homer to Bird in the eighth.
Boston's only run came in the fifth on back-to-back doubles from Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi.
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS
9:12 Rodriguez done for the night after six innings: 6 IP; 7 H; 5 ER; 2 BB; 2 K. Brutal fourth inning, when four of the runs scored; otherwise, he wasn't bad. But can't allow that big inning and hope to win.
8:17 On an 0-and-1 pitch, Rodriguez leaves a pitch up on the inner half and Miguel Andujar clubs into the seats in left, doubling the Yankees lead to 4-0.
8:12 Eduardo Rodriguez threw that four-seamer right into the wheelhouse of Didi Gregorius - middle-in -- and Gregorius drove it to the warning track in center for a booming double. Yanks have Rodriguez in trouble with runners at second and third and no out.
7:59 Yankees welcome Steve Pearce to The Rivalry by noting on the center field scoreboard that he's the second player in history to play for all five A.L. East teams; Kelly Johnson was the first.
7:48 CC Sabathia looks sharp early, changing speeds and staying out of the middle of the plate, as he has learned to do.
WHO: Red Sox vs. New York Yankees
WHEN: 7:05 p.m.
WHERE: Yankee Stadium
WHAT'S UP: Tonight begins a highly-anticipated three-game series between the longtime rivals, with the Red Sox currently owning a slim one-game lead in the American League East. The Sox own the best record in baseball and have won four in a row and six of the last seven. This is the start of a three-city, nine-game road trip for the Sox. This is the third series of the year between the teams, with each team having won two-of-three in its home ballpark. The Yankees are coming off a losing road trip (2-4) to Tampa Bay and Philadelphia.
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (9-2, 3.86) vs. LHP CC Sabathia (4-3, 3.18).
TV/RADIO: NESN/MLB Network; WEEI 93.7 FM
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Betts RF
Benintendi LF
Martinez DH
Pearce 1B
Bogaerts SS
Nunez 2B
Devers 3B
Vazquez C
Bradley CF
YANKEES
Hicks CF
Judge RF
Stanton DH
Gregorius SS
Torres 2B
Andujar 3B
Bird 1B
Romine C
Gardiner LF
NEWS AND NOTES
- The Red Sox wasted no time getting Steve Pearce right into the lineup Friday, batting him cleanup and playing him at first. Manager Alex Cora indicated that Pearce would be in the lineup most of the time -- either at first or as the DH -- against lefties. " I do feel that hitting him behind J.D. (Martinez) is going to give me options later in the game,'' said Cora. "If they bring the righties, we've got Mitch (Moreland) on the bench, and Brock (Holt). So, it just makes sense.'' Cora said it would be good to give Moreland some rest going forward. "He's going to be benefit from this,'' said Cora. "It's starting to get hot and we've got to take care of these guys. He's all in. He wants to win a World Series and good teams make good moves.''
- Pearce revealed that he grew up a Red Sox fan, with his father's family from Rehobeth Mass. Pearce was drafted by the Sox in the 10th round in 2004 but elected to remain in junior college. He signed a year later when he was taken in the eighth round by Pittsburgh. "Very excited (to join the Sox),'' said Pearce. "This was my childhood favorite team, so it's good to be here, especially where they're at in the division. It's nice to come here and play meaningful baseball and hopefully contribute to some wins.'' Pearce has played both second and third in his career, though not for a while. But he said he'd be willing to help out there is asked.
- SportsNet in Toronto reported that the Sox got the Blue Jays to pay $1.5 million of Pearce's remaining $3.1 million remaining salary for this year. That's important for the Sox as they attempted to stay under the final luxury tax threshold of $237 million.
- Both Steven Wright and Dustin Pedroia will both see orthopedic surgeon Dr. Riley Williams on Monday. Williams performed cartilage restoration procedures on both last year and recently, both felt some inflammation in their surgically repaired knees. Pedroia will actually stay in New York for a few days and go through some rehab work under the doctor's supervision to see what can be done -- if anything -- differently in his rehab.
- RHP Tyler Thornburg will throw an inning for Pawtucket Saturday, then re-join the Sox here Sunday at which point a plan will be developed.
- Cora said he's been impressed with RHP Brandon Workman, who has held opponents scoreless in nine of his 10 appearances since being promoted from Pawtucket and will begin using him in more high-leverage situations.
- The Sox have urged RHP Joe Kelly to use his changeup more. He did that in May, but has relied on it less of late and paid the price. "I think the stuff is still there,'' said Cora, "but we'll make some adjustments.''