MLB: New York Yankees 3, Boston 2

BOSTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Nick Swisher's ground-rule double drove in the go-ahead score in a three-run sixth Friday and the New York Yankees held on to edge Boston 3-2.

The Yankees opened the crucial three-game series with only their second win over the Red Sox in 10 tries this year and they moved a game in front of Boston for the lead in the American League East.

It was New York's eighth straight victory.

Boston took a 2-0 lead into the sixth, one of the runs coming on the 21st homer of the year by David Ortiz in the fourth.

With Jon Lester (11-4) on the mound for the Red Sox, Eduardo Nunez drew a leadoff walk in the sixth and Derek Jeter singled Nunez to second. Curtis Granderson then singled to bring home Nunez and a walk to Mark Teixeira loaded the bases.

Lester got Robinson Cano on a double play grounder but Jeter scored the tying run on the play and Swisher followed with his double that delivered Granderson with the third run of the inning.

New York used six pitchers in the game and the second of them, Boone Logan, got the win. Logan (3-2) worked an inning in relief of starter Bartolo Colon.

Mariano Rivera allowed an infield, one-out single in the ninth, but went on to earn his 29th save.

Lester (11-5) gave up three runs on five hits in six innings to take the loss.