NEW YORK — Alex Rodriguez had a three-run double in a seven-run first-inning outburst, and the New York Yankees broke out the bats and avoided their worst start in more than 25 years with a 14-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday night.
Chase Headley and Stephen Drew belted consecutive homers as a New York lineup that entered hitting .193 throttled Clay Buchholz (1-1) to avoid a three-game sweep and win for just the second time in six games.
HOME OPENER
WHO: Red Sox (Porcello 0-1) vs. Washington Nationals (Zimmermann 1-0)
WHEN: 3:05 p.m. Monday
WHERE: Fenway Park
TELEVISION: NESN
Masahiro Tanaka survived one wild stretch to earn his first victory, and with five solid innings somewhat put to rest concern about his right elbow.
Brian McCann hit his 200th career homer, Rodriguez walked with the bases loaded for a fourth RBI, and Headley added a run-scoring single for New York, which had 16 hits.
Carlos Beltran, who entered 2 for 20, singled twice, and Brett Gardner had a two-run single. Every Yankees starter had a hit and scored a run.
The Red Sox were hoping to match their best start since 2006 at 5-1. Instead, they fell flat heading into Monday’s home opener against Washington.
Tanaka (1-1) looked a whole lot more impressive through three innings than he did on opening day, mixing in more fastballs – topping out at 92 mph. He retired nine of his first 11 batters, allowing one hit and a walk.
But he lost control in a 38-pitch fourth, throwing two wild pitches and 17 balls as the Red Sox scored three times. Xander Bogaerts had a two-run double for one of Boston’s two hits in the inning.
Overall, Tanaka allowed four hits and four runs – three earned. He struck out four and walked three.
Manager Joe Girardi called this an important game for the Yankees – they last opened the season 1-5 in 1989 – before a stretch in which they play 25 of 35 on the road.
The Yankees hadn’t even gotten a hit in the first inning through five games, but on Sunday they produced their highest-scoring first inning against the Red Sox since putting up eight runs on Aug. 15, 1954.
Batting sixth, Rodriguez came up with the bases loaded and drilled a liner into the gap in left-center. Buchholz kicked at the cleats cleaner on the back of the mound after McCann scored from first.
Headley followed with a two-run shot, and two pitches later, Drew connected to give the Yankees a 7-0 lead.
Hanley Ramirez hit his third homer, a solo shot off Tanaka in the fifth inning and added a sacrifice fly.
The Yankees chased Buchholz with one out in the fourth after Mark Teixeira’s sacrifice fly made it 10-3.
Buchholz yielded 10 runs – nine earned – on nine hits and two walks.
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