Devers' 2-run double helps Red Sox beat Yankees and stop Rodón's 7-game winning streak

BOSTON (AP) — Rafael Devers hit a two-run double and the Boston Red Sox ended Carlos Rodón’s seven-game winning streak by beating the New York Yankees 8-4 on Saturday night.

Tyler O’Neill and rookie Jamie Westbrook hit an RBI double in a three-run first inning for the Red Sox, who rebounded from an 8-1 loss in the series opener Friday to win before only the second sellout at Fenway Park this season.

“It was better today than yesterday,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of the atmosphere. “They’re in the game. … No matter where we are, people care.” It’s been fun these last two days.

Boston improved to 33-9 wearing its City Connect uniforms with bright yellow jerseys and powder blue lettering, including 18-5 over the last two years.

Rodón (9-3) had allowed three runs or fewer in 13 of 14 starts this season. O’Neill and Westbrook sandwiched their doubles around Connor Wong’s single.

“It seemed like he was at the plate a lot,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Rodón. “I thought his stuff was good.”

Rodón allowed five runs, seven hits and three walks in five innings in his first loss since May 2.

“I just left a couple balls in the middle of the plate,” he said of his first two innings. “They hit balls at me really hard and I just didn’t get to the area I wanted and I grounded the team. Five races were difficult, difficult for them to get through. It’s my fault.

Juan Soto hit a solo homer and DJ LeMahieu had a two-run single for the major league-best Yankees (50-23), who had won nine of their previous 10 road games.

“Playing against the Green Monster can be fun,” said Soto, who was in left field, “but it’s also fun when you see a lot of balls hitting the wall.”

Justin Slaten (4-2) worked 2 2/3 innings of one-run relief, striking out Giancarlo Stanton to strand the bases loaded in the fifth.

“It’s everything you see as a kid growing up,” he said of his first time in a matchup between the Red Sox and Yankees. “This rivalry goes back a long way. It’s something you can feel when you arrive at the club every day, when you walk out onto the field for the national anthem and throughout the game. …Honestly, it’s a really surreal feeling.

Kenley Jansen got the final four outs for his 11th save in 12 chances, the 431st of his big league career.

After LeMahieu’s single made it 3-2 in the second against Cooper Criswell, Devers lined his double into the left-center field in the bottom of the inning.

Soto hit his 18th homer off Slaten, an opposite-field drive that just cleared the top of the Green Monster, and returned to the field in the seventh.

Boston added two runs in the eighth when Jarren Duran had an RBI single and scored from third on a throwing error by catcher Jose Trevino.

Before the game, the Red Sox honored NCAA basketball champion UConn. Alex Karaban, who grew up about 30 minutes away in Southborough, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

TRAINERS ROOM

Yankees: Ace RHP Gerrit Cole returned to the clubhouse and said he “felt great” after his third rehab start Friday night. Boone said the club will decide in the coming days whether he will rejoin the rotation or begin another rehab.

Red Sox: OF Wiyer Abreu (sprained right ankle) ran the bases. Cora said he feels good and the team will talk next week about his potential return. … Cora said reliever Chris Martin (anxiety) will begin a rehab assignment Sunday.

FOLLOWING

Yankees RHP Marcus Stroman (6-2, 2.82 ERA) is scheduled to start the series finale Sunday night against Red Sox RHP Kutter Crawford (2-6, 3.47).