Yankees Go Long to Defeat Red Sox

Gary Sheffield flashed some impressive power, helping beat the Boston Red Sox with a rare home run into Yankee Stadium’s left-field upper deck.

Sheffield’s three-run drive off Alan Embree capped a five-run sixth inning, and the New York Yankees opened the latest installment of baseball’s best rivalry with a 6-3 victory Friday night.

Rookie Robinson Cano started the rally with a two-run homer off a wild Tim Wakefield (4-4).

Randy Johnson (5-3) won despite another perplexing start. He gave up hits to his last five batters -- nine in all -- and struck out only three in six innings. But the Red Sox managed only one run in the inning, thanks to Cano and Tony Womack, who threw out runners at the plate.

Mariano Rivera, facing a team that had given him problems earlier this season, got two outs for his 12th save in 14 chances.

Rivera failed in his first two opportunities of the season against the Red Sox, both on the opening homestand, but has been perfect since.

New York, 11-19 three weeks ago, has won 16 of 18 since, including nine in a row at home to move into second place in the East Division, 3 1/2 games behind Baltimore.

Boston, meanwhile, has struggled, losing four in a row and falling five games back of the Orioles.

Wakefield walked seven, his highest total in eight years, and the Red Sox were hitless in nine at-bats with runners in scoring position during the first five innings.