MLB: Boston 5, N.Y. Yankees 4 (11 inn.)

BOSTON, April 24 (UPI) -- Jason Bay hit a game-tying homer in the ninth Friday and Kevin Youkilis delivered a solo shot in the 11th, giving Boston a 5-4 win over the New York Yankees.

The thrilling contest was the first of 18 games to be played this year between the old rivals.

Boston won its eighth straight game and halted the Yankees' three-game winning streak.

New York broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh, getting an RBI single from Mark Teixeira and a sacrifice fly from Robinson Cano. That lead appeared likely to hold up when Mariano Rivera came on to work the ninth for the Yankees and struck out David Ortiz to open the inning.

Youkilis, however, singled to center and, after J.D. Drew grounded out, Bay hit a 1-0 pitch over the wall in center to tie the game.

New York put its leadoff batter on base in both the 10th and 11th innings without success and Boston finally made the Yankees pay when Youkilis homered on a 2-2 pitch off Damaso Marte (0-1) with one out in the 11th.

The win went to Ramon Ramirez (2-0), who survived the top of the 11th despite giving up a walk and a base hit.