BOSTON — Brett Gardner had a tiebreaking homer in the sixth inning for one of his three hits, helping the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 8-7 on Sunday night.

Former Red Sox infielder Stephen Drew had a pair of hits and drove in four runs in his third game with the Yankees since he was sent there at the trading deadline. Esmil Rogers (1-0) earned the victory in his Yankees debut by throwing three hitless innings, striking out three and allowing one walk.

David Robertson pitched the ninth for his 29th save.

Craig Breslow (2-3) came in to relieve Clay Buchholz to start the sixth inning and gave up Gardner’s leadoff homer.

Buchholz, the only holdover from Boston’s rotation at the start of the season, needed 114 pitches to get through five innings and couldn’t hold on to 3-0 and 7-4 leads. He allowed seven runs on eight hits and five walks.

Yankees starter David Phelps lasted just two innings, allowing five runs and six hits with two walks. He departed with right elbow inflammation and will be evaluated later this week in New York.

Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz homered for Boston. Pedroia lined a 3-2 pitch just foul with two out in the bottom of the ninth before grounding out to shortstop to end the game.

The Red Sox led 3-0 after one inning, 5-3 after two and 7-4 after four. But the Yankees tied it in the fifth on Chase Headley’s RBI double and Drew’s two-run single.

Gardner led off the sixth with his 15th homer of the year – and his fifth in six games – on a 2-0 pitch, sending it over the Red Sox bullpen beyond right field.

THE TRAINER’S ROOM

Red Sox: Newly acquired first baseman Allen Craig missed his second straight game because of foot soreness. Manager John Farrell says he hopes to have Craig in the lineup when the Red Sox are in St. Louis to face his former team this week.

Outfielder Shane Victorino flew to Los Angeles on Sunday to see an orthopedic surgeon about his back. The results of an MRI exam Friday indicated he likely will need surgery. Victorino has been able to play in only 30 games, batting .268 with two homers, 12 RBI and a .303 on-base percentage.

“I’m definitely disappointed. News that I didn’t want to get,” Victorino said. “Obviously I think we need another opinion, see where we’re at and go from there.”

Yankees: Right-hander Michael Pineda, who is on the 60-day disabled list because of a right shoulder injury, will make a rehab start Friday. Right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (right elbow ligament) will see doctors as scheduled on Monday, three weeks after he received an injection as an alternative to surgery.

ON DECK

Red Sox: The Red Sox have their second off day in less than a week before a rematch with World Series opponent St. Louis. Rubby De La Rosa (3-4) will face Lance Lynn (11-8) in the opener.

Yankees: New York returns home for a four-game series against the Tigers. Brandon McCarthy (3-0) will face Detroit’s Max Scherzer (13-3) in the opener.

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