Red Sox Open Second Half with 4-2 win over Yankees

Jacoby Ellsbury and Johnny Gomes homered, and Felix Doubront outpitched Andy Pettitte on Friday night to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 4-2 victory over the depleted New York Yankees in the opener of their three-game series.

Ellsbury homered on Pettitte's second pitch of the game, and Gomes made it 3-0 in the second.

Doubront (7-3) held a Yankees lineup without Derek Jeter and a handful of other regulars hitless until Lyle Overbay doubled to lead off the fifth inning. In all, the Red Sox left-hander gave up two runs — one earned — on three hits and three walks while striking out five in 6 1-3 innings. It was the 12th consecutive start in which Doubront has allowed three or fewer earned runs.

Koji Uehara pitched the ninth for his ninth save.

[Associated Press]