New York @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 2, 2018 ) NY Yankees 7, Boston 15

The Boston Red Sox acquired Steve Pearce in late June in part for his ability to hammer left-handed pitching, but he did that and then some in the American League East leaders' latest rout. The Red Sox strive to create more separation between themselves and their closest competitor Friday when they host the second of four games with the New York Yankees.

Acquired from Toronto on June 28, Pearce entered Thursday batting .333 with his new team and .500 against southpaws before leading the charge in Boston's 19-hit offensive onslaught as the Red Sox pounded New York 15-7. The 35-year-old journeyman set career high with three homers - two against right-handers - and six RBIs, including a three-run blast during an eight-run explosion in the fourth inning. Didi Gregorius belted the first of his two home runs in the first inning to stake the Yankees to an early four-run advantage, but it was not nearly enough as the AL wild-card leaders fell a season-high 6 1/2 games behind Boston in the division race. The 28-year-old shortstop has multiple hits in his last three contests and is batting .311 with five homers and 21 RBIs in 27 contests since the start of last month.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, WPIX (New York), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Luis Severino (14-4, 2.94 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (13-4, 4.03)

Severino is 1-2 with an 8.85 ERA in four starts since beating Boston on July 1 and has failed to work more than five innings in any of those outings. The two-time All-Star is coming off his worst two turns of the season, surrendering a total of 13 runs (12 earned) and 19 hits across 9 1/3 innings in losses to Tampa Bay and Kansas City. Andrew Benintendi is 10-for-22 with two homers and 10 RBIs versus Severino, who tossed 6 2/3 scoreless frames in a win against the Red Sox last month.

Porcello won for the fifth time in his last six decisions despite an uneven performance Saturday against Minnesota, surrendering four runs over 5 2/3 innings. The outing was another rough one at home for the 2016 Cy Young Award winner, who is 5-3 with a 5.10 ERA in Fenway Park this year (8-1 with a 3.14 ERA in 12 road turns). Porcello fired two-hit ball over seven scoreless innings in a home win against the Yankees on April 12 before allowing five runs over 5 1/3 frames in a no-decision May 9 at New York.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pearce became the first Red Sox since Kevin Millar in 2004 to hit three homers in a game against the Yankees and only the third player in team history to do so.

2. Gregorius has four multi-homer performances as a shortstop this season, twice as many as any other shortstop in club history has enjoyed in a single season.

3. Boston RF Mookie Betts is hitting .462 with nine extra-base hits, nine RBIs and 14 runs scored in 10 games versus New York this season.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 8, Yankees 5