MLB

Martin’s 2-run double lifts Yanks over Red Sox 4-2

BOSTON — Mariano Rivera struck out Adrian Gonzalez with the bases loaded for the final out and Russell Martin hit a go-ahead double in the seventh inning that sent the Yankees past the Red Sox 4-2 Thursday night despite stranding 12 runners in the first six innings.

The lack of clutch hitting cost A.J. Burnett a potential victory as he began September with a solid performance after a horrible August in which he was 1-2 with an 11.91 ERA in five starts. In this one, he gave up two runs and five hits in 5 1-3 innings.

The Red Sox led 2-1 after Alfredo Aceves (9-2) escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth. But he allowed three runs in the seventh and took his first loss in relief after winning 18 straight decisions out of the bullpen.