New York Yankees vs Boston Red Sox Match Player Stats On Aug 03, 2018

Rick Porcello retired the last 21 batters he faced en route to a one-hitter, and Steve Pearce hit a two-run homer in an explosive three-run first inning Friday night as the host Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees 4-1 in a game that featured Alex Cora's first ejection as Red Sox manager.

Porcello (14-4) hit Brett Gardner with his third pitch of the game and served up a home run to Miguel Andujar leading off the third inning. But he did not give up another baserunner the rest of the way in his 10th career complete game and first of the season.

The right-hander struck out nine and did not walk a batter. He faced just one batter over the minimum, with Gardner having been erased on a double play in the first inning.

Pearce, who homered three times in Thursday's series-opening, 15-7 win, connected off Luis Severino (14-5) with one out in the bottom of the first after Andrew Benintendi had smacked a ground-rule double.

The homer was Pearce's ninth of the season.

The Red Sox weren't done scoring in the first. Ian Kinsler drew a two-out walk, stole second and came around on a single by Eduardo Nunez for a 3-0 lead.

Much had already taken place before Pearce's homer, however.

After Porcello hit Gardner in the top of the first, Severino responded by brushing back Mookie Betts leading off the bottom of the first. That prompted plate umpire Adam Hamari to warn both teams.

Cora argued the need for a warning and was ejected.

The Red Sox started the second with a new second baseman after Kinsler strained his left hamstring on his first-inning steal. Betts moved in from the outfield to play second for the first time in his career.

After Andujar got the Yankees on the board with his 14th homer of the year in the third, the Red Sox regained their three-run cushion on Mitch Moreland's RBI single in the fifth to score J.D. Martinez, who had doubled.

Severino was pulled two outs into the sixth inning and charged with four runs on seven hits. He walked three and struck out two.

Moreland, with a pair of singles, was the only player in the game with multiple hits. The Red Sox out-hit the Yankees 7-1.

The win was Boston's sixth in its last seven games, and gave the Red Sox a 6-5 lead over the Yankees in the season series.

The Red Sox increased their lead in the American League East to 7 1/2 games over the Yankees, who lost their third straight.

--Field Level Media