BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox starters were due for a bad outing, and rookie left-hander Henry Owens had a real bad one.

Owens was tagged for seven runs in 12/3 innings Wednesday in the New York Yankees’ 13-8 victory against Boston.

“It wasn’t his best day,” interim manager Torey Lovullo said. “We all know that. He started off really strong and it happened pretty quick when they jumped on him.”

Boston’s starters had lasted at least five innings for 30 straight games, the longest stretch for the club since 2004. The team said it was the longest for any AL club this season.

Owens (2-2) retired the first four batters but the next eight reached base safely, with one out coming on the basepaths.

Greg Bird, John Ryan Murphy and Carlos Beltran each homered during an eight-run second for the Yankees.

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After getting the first out in the second, Chase Headley walked, then Bird and Murphy homered. Didi Gregorious singled, Stephen Drew doubled and Brett Gardner walked to load the bases. Chris Young singled in a run but Gardner was caught between second and third –with other Yankees occupying both. Alex Rodriguez singled in two runs to chase Owens.

In all he gave up six hits, two walks and had two strikeouts.

“I need to get back on track quicker,” he said. I’ve done it in the past.”

Xander Bogaerts had three hits, including a homer, and Blake Swihart had two hits and two walks for Boston.

David Ortiz added an RBI double as he continues his pursuit for 500 career homers. He has 495.

Drew doubled during New York’s big inning and added a three-run homer in the third. Gregorius later homered for the Yankees.

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Masahiro Tanaka (11-6) pitched into the seventh as the Yankees won for the fifth time in six games. New York improved to 7-2 against the Red Sox at Fenway Park this season and 10-5 overall this season.

The Yankees remain 11/2 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East.

The win was the 800th of Yankee Manager Joe Girardi’s career. He guided the Marlins for one year and is in his eighth season with New York.

Ryan Cook relieved after Owens was chased with two outs in the second and gave up a first-pitch homer to Beltran that made it 8-1.

Boston loaded the bases in the seventh, but Justin Wilson got pinch-hitter Sandy Leon to fly to left to protect a 12-5 lead.

After the Yankees scored another in the top of the eighth, the Red Sox got two in the bottom half and loaded the bases with one out. Dellin Betances then struck out Pablo Sandoval on a 3-2 curveball, then got Bogaerts on a grounder.

Boston scored another in the ninth but Andrew Miller struck out Jackie Bradley Jr. to end it.

NOTES: Hanley Ramirez was out for his sixth straight with a sore right shoulder. He did take grounders again at first as he converts to being an infielder again.


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