Wakefield helps Red Sox beat Yanks 6-5

Mike Lowell homered off struggling Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang, and Kevin Youkilis also connected to help the Red Sox win 6-5 on Wednesday night and improve to 7-0 against New York this year.

The Red Sox have beaten the Yankees eight straight times dating to the last game of last season -- their longest winning streak against their longtime rivals since 1912.

Tim Wakefield (8-3) beat the Yankees for the second straight time after losing to them in nine of his previous 10 decisions. Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his 15th save.

Mark Teixeira went 4 for 5 for New York, including his AL-leading 19th homer. Wang (0-4) lasted just 2 2-3 innings -- the second straight Yankees starter to get just eight outs.

Wang was restored to the rotation after two scoreless relief appearances, but his troubles soon returned. He gave up five runs over 4 2-3 innings in a no-decision against Texas last Thursday, and gave up four runs and six hits versus Boston; his ERA dropped from 14.46 to 14.34.

The Red Sox are 7-0 against the Yankees to start the season for the first time since 1912, when the New York franchise was known as the Highlanders. Boston won the first 14 matchups that year for a 17-game winning streak, when combined with the last three of the 1911 season.

Wakefield allowed eight hits in six innings and improved to 5-0 at Fenway Park in five starts this year. The knuckleballer handed a 6-3 lead to a bullpen that had given up just one earned run in the last 17 1-3 innings, but Ramon Ramirez gave up back-to-back homers to Johnny Damon and Teixeira in the seventh.

Papelbon retired Teixeira before walking Alex Rodriguez in the ninth. Pinch-runner Ramiro Pena stole second, but Robinson Cano struck out and Jorge Posada hit a fly ball to left to end it.