NEW YORK — Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury hit a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning, lifting the New York Yankees to a 2-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night.
Ellsbury began the game in a 3-for-23 slump and went hitless in his first two at-bats against Boston left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (6-4). After singling off Rodriguez in the fifth, Ellsbury drove a 2-1 slider into the second deck in right field with one out in the seventh.
It was Ellsbury’s fifth home run, and it marked the 12th consecutive game with a home run for New York. The Yankees have 23 home runs in their last 12 games and 146 overall, one shy of last year’s total.
Designated hitter Alex Rodriguez added an RBI double for New York, which won for the 13th time in 19 games since the All-Star break. New York won two of three in the series.
Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia did not get a decision but turned in a respectable outing, allowing a run and three hits in six innings. He walked three and struck out eight, one shy of his season high.
Sabathia’s biggest strikeout came after the Red Sox tied it in the fifth and then loaded the bases. The New York veteran ended the inning by getting designated hitter David Ortiz to swing at strike three on a fastball clocked at 94 mph.
Justin Wilson (4-0) struck out three and worked around a two-out single to in the seventh for the win. Dellin Betances allowed a two-out single to left fielder Hanley Ramirez in the eighth but stranded him at second by striking out first baseman Mike Napoli.
In the ninth, Andrew Miller allowed a two-out single to pinch hitter Travis Shaw and walked center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. The Yankees closer finished off his 24th save in as many opportunities by striking out Castillo on three pitches.
Eduardo Rodriguez allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings. Like Sabathia, he also worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth, getting first baseman Mark Teixeira and right fielder Chris Young on popups.
New York took a 1-0 lead with two outs in the third as left fielder Brett Gardner singled and scored on a double by Alex Rodriguez.
The Red Sox tied it with two outs in the fifth when Castillo lined a single past a diving attempt by shortstop Didi Gregorius. Castillo’s hit came after Sabathia issued a walk to Bradley.
NOTES: New York C Brian McCann (left knee) was held out of the starting lineup for the second straight game. He was injured in the seventh inning on Tuesday when he blocked several pitches in the dirt. An MRI exam Wednesday showed some inflammation around the MCL area. … Boston RF Rusney Castillo batted leadoff for the first time in his career and higher than fifth in the lineup for the first time. … The Yankees said rookie RHP Luis Severino would make his next start Tuesday in Cleveland. … Boston OF Mookie Betts (concussion) saw a specialist in Pittsburgh on Thursday. He will rejoin the team Friday in Detroit but is not ready to return. The Red Sox said he passed concussion tests.
Blue Jays 9, Twins 3
TORONTO — Edwin Encarnacion homered, doubled twice and had four RBIs, Mark Buehrle pitched seven innings and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Minnesota Twins 9-3 on Thursday night.
Left fielder Ben Revere added three hits and three runs scored for the Blue Jays (58-52), who won their fifth straight game in completing a four-game sweep of the Twins.
Trevor Plouffe hit a two-run homer and Aaron Hicks added a solo shot for the Twins (54-54), who lost their fifth in a row.
Buehrle (12-5), the Blue Jays left-hander, allowed five hits, one walk and three runs while striking out one.
Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson (8-9) allowed nine hits, three walks and eight runs and had four strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.
Encarnacion hit his second double of the game in the sixth against right-handed reliever Blaine Boyer to score one run and increase Toronto’s lead to 9-2.
Hicks, the Twins center fielder, hit his sixth homer of the season in the seventh.
Right-hander Bo Schultz replaced Buehrle in the eighth. He gave up a two-out walk to Twins right fielder Torii Hunter, but the inning ended when center fielder Kevin Pillar made a sensational leaping catch near the warning track on a drive designated hitter Miguel Sano.
Schultz also pitched the ninth.