Ryan Hanigan, Travis Shaw and Xander Bogaerts homered off Michael Pineda to back knuckleballer Steven Wright, and the Boston Red Sox opened the second half with a 5-3 win over the New York Yankees on Friday night.
Hanigan's third-inning homer was his first since last Aug. 19 off Cleveland's Corey Kluber, and the ball was caught by reliever Robbie Ross Jr., who stuck out his cap to snag it in the visitors' bullpen in left field. Shaw hit a two-run homer in the fifth, and Bogaerts made it 5-0 with a two-run drive in the sixth.
Wright (11-5), who began the night with an AL-leading 2.68 ERA, was a first-time All-Star at age 31 but didn't pitch in Tuesday night's game and was moved up in Boston's rotation for the series opener. He retired his first 14 batters before Alex Rodriguez hit a slow hopper the pitcher couldn't come up with on a bare-hand try about 45 feet from the plate on the third base side.
New York closed the gap with a three-run sixth, when Wright lost the strike zone. Carlos Beltran had a two-run single, and Brian McCann hit an RBI grounder as first baseman Hanley Ramirez bounced his throw to second, eliminating the possibility of an inning-ending double play.
Wright won for the eighth time in nine decisions, allowing three runs and three hits in six innings. Brad Ziegler and Ross followed with an inning apiece, and Koji Uehara finished the four-hitter for his fifth save, his third since closer Craig Kimbrel hurt a knee.
Before the game, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said the decision to buy or sell ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline likely will be determined by this 10-game homestand. New York (44-45) is under .500 after the All-Star break for the first time since 1995.
Pineda (3-9) had his second straight poor performance, looking frustrated as he kicked at the mound after the long balls. He gave up five runs and five hits in five-plus innings, leaving him with a 5.56 ERA and 18 home runs allowed in 18 starts this season.
Local
Nathan Eovaldi allowed two hits over 1 1/3 innings in his third relief appearance before his scheduled return to the Yankees' rotation Tuesday against Baltimore.
IN THE SEATS
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, announced by Donald Trump as his pick for Republican vice presidential nominee, was in the crowd of 47,459, the Yankees' fourth home sellout this season.
WHAT, ME WORRY?
David Ortiz laughed at the notion his comments this week that Boston should sign Edwin Encarnacion to replace him next season could be construed as improper.
"Tampering? I don't write no paycheck," Ortiz said. "I can say whatever I want. I'm not a GM or a team owner. If I say tomorrow that I want to play with LeBron James, am I tampering, too?"
