Yankees Storm Back, Beat Red Sox 8-7

BOSTON - In a game that mirrored the season, the New York Yankees bounced back. Alex Rodriguez capped a six-run eighth inning with a tiebreaking single off Jonathan Papelbon, and the Yankees overcame a five-run deficit to beat the Boston Red Sox 8-7 Friday night.

Jason Giambi and Robinson Cano started the comeback with home runs off Hideki Okajima, Derek Jeter hit an RBI single against Papelbon and Bobby Abreu tied it with a two-run double.

"Every win now is a big win," Jeter said.

By winning a 4-hour, 43-minute marathon - two minutes shy of the record for a nine-inning game set by the Yankees and Red Sox on Aug. 18 last year - New York closed within 4 1/2 games of AL East-leading Boston. The Yankees remained 3 1/2 games ahead of Detroit in the wild-card race.

Boston has led the division for the last 150 days. By winning the opener of a three-game series, the Yankees kept alive their slim chances for overtaking their longtime rival.

Johnny Damon went 4-for-6 against his former team, Brian Bruney (3-1) pitched 1 1-3 innings in relief of Andy Pettitte for the win, and Mariano Rivera pitched a one-hit ninth for his 27th save in 30 chances. Papelbon (1-3) blew a save for the third time in 38 opportunities.