Jason Bay homered off Mariano Rivera with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the game into extra innings, and Kevin Youkilis hit a solo shot to win it in the 11th on Friday night as the Boston Red Sox beat New York for their eighth straight victory.
It was the first time the Red Sox had beaten the Yankees by homering in the bottom of the ninth to tie it and then hitting a game-ending homer in extra innings, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
"The fans got their money's worth today," said Teixeira, who snubbed Boston to be the biggest piece of the Yankee's $423.5 million free agent spending spree in the offseason. "They got a great game."
Rivera was called upon to pitch more than one inning for the first time this season, and he got within one out of finishing Boston off before Bay cleared the 37-foot-high Green Monster above the 379-foot marker.
"That's a huge at-bat," Youkilis said. "If he just misses that ball, it's
'Game over.'"
Ramon Ramirez (2-0) allowed one hit and one walk in one inning for the win.
Damaso Marte (0-1) struck out three and allowed just one hit: Youkilis' fifth homer of the year and the second game-ender of his career.
"It's tough to close out a game in this ballpark," said Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon, who used to play for the Red Sox. "In this ballpark, one swing of the bat can get you back in the game."
Rivera came on with two outs in the eighth and struck out Dustin Pedroia with runners on first and second to end the inning. In the ninth, he gave up a one-out single to Youkilis and, one out later, Bay's homer to tie it.
"When you see him come in, it's not a confidence booster," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "We have put a dent in him more than anybody else
- but we've also seen him more than anybody else."
Royals 6, Tigers 1
At Kansas City, Mo., Zack Greinke struck out 10 in his second straight complete game, despite having his scoreless streak end at 38 innings with an unearned run in the fifth.
Greinke (4-0) got help from Alberto Callaspo's homer, his first in 441 career at-bats.
Rick Porcello, making his third big league start, allowed five runs, four earned, and four hits in six innings for the Tigers.
Twins 5, Indians 1
At Cleveland, Justin Morneau homered and Nick Blackburn pitched seven solid innings to win for the first time in three starts.
Blackburn (1-1) helped snap the Twins' four-game road losing streak.
Fausto Carmona (1-3) allowed five runs in six-plus innings for the Indians.
Rangers 5, Orioles 4
Michael Young hit a two-out, two-run homer off George Sherrill in the ninth inning to help visiting Texas finish off a rally from a 4-1 hole.
Sherrill (0-1) struck out Chris Davis with the bases loaded in the eighth after Marlon Byrd hit an RBI single off Jim Johnson to make it 4-3. The left-hander then got the first two outs in the ninth before suffering his first blown save.
C.J. Wilson worked the eighth (1-2) and Frank Francisco earned his third save.
