NEW YORK -- In a battle of rookies, the 30-year-old won the night. Steven Wright turned in the best start of his young career, holding the highest-scoring offense in the second half of the season to a single run over eight innings as the Red Sox held off the New York Yankees, 2-1.
Wright was nicked for a solo run in the seventh on a solo homer by Carlos Beltran, but otherwise held the Yankees to just three other hits -- all singles.
The knuckleballer posted a career-high nine strikeouts, giving him 17 strikeouts in his last two starts.
The Sox managed two runs - one earned -- off New York righthander Luis Severino, the Yankees' highest-regarded pitching prospect who was making his major league debut.
An error by third baseman Chase Headley led to an unearned run when Mike Napoli reached second on a bad throw by Headley and came around to score on Alejando De Aza.
David Ortiz hammered a pitch from Severino way into the right field seats to lead off the fourth and give the Red Sox a 2-0 lead. It was the 21st homer of the season for Ortiz and fifth in his last 13 games.
Wright, meanwhile, didn't allow a base hit until Didi Gregorius sent a single up the middle with one out in the fifth. Another single one out later by John David Murphy gave the Yanks two baserunners, but the knuckeballer shut down the threat by fanning Jacoby Ellsbury for the third time in as many plate appearances.
Boston Red Sox
Koji Uehara took care of the ninth for his 23rd save, converting his 14th consecutive save opportunity in the process. The inning was not without its challenges for Uehara, who put the potential tying run on second with a single and a wild pitch, then walked the potential winning run before getting pinch-hitter Brian McCann for the final out.