NEW YORK — Carlos Beltran hit a two-run homer, Ivan Nova rebounded from a rough outing and the New York Yankees beat Boston 3-2 Sunday night with the aid of another disputed replay ruling that led to the ejection of Red Sox Manager John Farrell.

Beltran had three hits and was pressed into his first career appearance at first base for the banged-up Yankees.

Ichiro Suzuki robbed David Ortiz of extra bases with a spectacular catch in the eighth inning to help New York take three of four in the first series of the season between the longtime rivals.

Mike Napoli homered and Felix Doubront (1-2) went 62/3 innings for the Red Sox, who scratched star second baseman Dustin Pedroia before the game because of a sore left wrist.

New York, playing without Derek Jeter for the second consecutive game, scored its third run with the benefit of instant replay in the fourth.

With runners at the corners and one out, the Red Sox thought they turned an inning-ending double play on Francisco Cervelli’s grounder. First base umpire Bob Davidson called Cervelli out on a bang-bang play, and Cervelli grabbed his right hamstring as he tumbled to the ground.

Advertisement

Yankees Manager Joe Girardi challenged the call, which was overturned after a three-minute replay review. That gave New York another run and a 3-1 lead.

Farrell, surely still bothered by a replay review that curiously went against Boston the day before, pointed to his eyes as he argued with two umpires. He was quickly ejected by Davidson.

Managers aren’t allowed to argue replay rulings.

Major League Baseball acknowledged it made the wrong call on a replay challenge that went against the Red Sox during New York’s 7-4 victory Saturday.

Cervelli was replaced at first base by Suzuki. When the Yankees took the field in the fifth, Suzuki was in right field and Beltran moved from right field to first base to replace Cervelli.

It was the first time Beltran had played first base in his 16-year major league career. He was pressed into service because oft-injured second baseman Brian Roberts was sidelined with a sore back, preventing Girardi from shuffling his infielders after Cervelli went down.

Advertisement

David Phelps struck out pinch-hitter Mike Carp with the bases loaded to end the eighth, pumping his fist as he bounced off the mound. Shawn Kelley struck out two in a perfect ninth for his third save.

Jacoby Ellsbury made a sliding catch in left-center to end it.

Nova (2-1) received a warm ovation after giving up two runs and eight hits with no walks in 71/3 innings. He was tagged by Baltimore for seven runs and 10 hits over 32/3 innings during a 14-5 loss in his previous outing.

Jonathan Herrera started in Pedroia’s place at second base and had an RBI single to go with a sensational defensive play.

Fans in the crowd of 46,081 chanted Jeter’s name when Yankees infielder Yangervis Solarte came up limping in the sixth. Solarte stayed in the game.

Jeter was out of the lineup for the second straight day after feeling tightness in his right quadriceps Friday night. Girardi said he could have played Jeter, but wanted to give him three days off in a row – the Yankees have a day off Monday.

NOTES: Cervelli’s injury left the Yankees with no natural backup for catcher Brian McCann, who was shaken up in the eighth when Phelps hit A.J. Pierzynski with a pitch and the ball deflected off McCann’s bare hand. McCann was checked by a trainer and Girardi before making a couple of warmup tosses to third base and staying in the game. … Cervelli was filling in at first base for Mark Teixeira, on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.