Major League Baseball

BoSox's rally in 8th keeps them perfect vs. Yanks

Published Jun. 12, 2009 7:15 a.m. ET

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The Boston Red Sox are 8-0 against the New York Yankees, and they'll have most of the summer to lord it over their AL East rivals.

J.D. Drew hit an RBI single to spark an eighth-inning rally, then he scored the go-ahead run on Mike Lowell's fly ball to help the Red Sox beat New York 4-3 on Thursday night. Boston has swept New York in all three series so far this season, and the teams don't meet again until Aug. 6.

"I know the fans probably love it," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "Good for them; they should. We just want to win every game."

It's the first time the Red Sox have opened the season with eight straight wins against their New York rivals since they helped christen the brand-new Fenway Park by winning the first 14 matchups against the Highlanders in 1912. Counting the last time they met last season, Boston has won nine straight.

"We definitely didn't envision this when we started off the three-game road trip. We came in here expecting to win some games," Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon said. "We've got over 100 games to go. Our day will come."

With the latest sweep, Boston went from a game behind to two games up in the division. The Red Sox left afterwards for Philadelphia, an NL city designated hitter David Ortiz will have to sit or play first base - just as he seemed to be snapping out of his season-long slump.

"We're playing good right now," said Ortiz, who hit his third homer in five games. "When things are happening, you've got to keep them rolling."

Takashi Saito (1-0) earned his first AL victory with four outs of scoreless relief, and Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his 16th save.

Brad Penny pitched six shutout innings before the Yankees scored three times off Manny Delcarmen in the seventh to take a 3-1 lead. After cruising through seven innings, CC Sabathia (5-4) ran into trouble in the eighth when Nick Green singled and Dustin Pedroia drew a 10-pitch walk.