Lester Goes Seven Strong as Sox Avoid Sweep

BOSTON (AP) – Jon Lester pitched seven strong innings and Jeremy

Hermida homered and drove in three runs as the Boston Red Sox beat

the New York Yankees 9-3 on Sunday night to salvage the final game

of their series.

After losing 10-3 and 14-3, the Red Sox finally put their

hitting and pitching together and broke the Yankees six-game

winning streak.

Lester (3-2) entered the game having allowed just one earned run

over his previous 20 2-3 innings and won his third consecutive

start. A.J. Burnett (4-1) worked 4 1-3 innings and gave up nine

runs, matching his career-high, also set at Fenway Park last Aug.

22.

Alex Rodriguez tied Hall of Famer Frank Robinson for seventh

place with 586 career homers when he hit a solo shot off Lester in

the fourth.