2 min read

NEW YORK — Ben Rice had a two-run single in New York’s five-run eighth inning and finished with three RBI as the Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 9-2 Saturday in the nightcap and earned a doubleheader split.

The Yankees pulled rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr. after the third inning because of right knee discomfort. The 21-year-old tweaked his knee on a check swing in the second inning and took another at-bat before exiting.

Ceddanne Rafaela hit an RBI single in a four-run ninth as Boston beat New York 6-0 in the opener.

By winning the second game, the Yankees evened the season series at six games apiece and moved three games ahead of the Red Sox for the AL’s top wild-card spot.

In the day game, rookie Jake Bennett (9-6) stymied the Yankees for second time this season, allowing three hits in six innings. Bennett struck out seven, walked none and has permitted one run and six hits in 12 1/3 innings in two starts against New York.

Wilyer Abreu homered off Carlos Rodón (4-3) in the first inning. Adley Rutschman had his first three-hit game with the Red Sox and scored in the fifth on a passed ball by Ali Sanchez when Rodón was slow to cover the plate. Andruw Monasterio padded the lead with a two-run single in the ninth and scored on Sogard’s RBI double.

After Amed Rosario reached on a throwing error by third baseman Caleb Durbin in the fourth and advanced on a passed ball by Rutschman, Heliot Ramos lifted a fly ball to center.

Ceddanne Rafaela ran back and got turned around at the edge of the warning track but recovered to retrieve the ball in front of the fence and made a strong throw to Sogard at second. Rosario initially had to hold near second to see if the ball was caught and had just rounded third when Sogard got the ball, and the strong throw easily allowed Rutschman to complete the tag.

In his third start since returning from left elbow inflammation, Rodón allowed two runs and three hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Boston left-hander Ranger Suarez (5-3, 3.35 ERA) opposes New York right-hander Will Warren (8-6, 4.39) in the finale of the four-game series on Sunday.