Red Sox 5, Yankees 1: Jon Lester pitched eight strong innings and David Ortiz doubled in a run as host Boston clinched a series win over rival New York.

Jonny Gomes and Shane Victorino each added an RBI single and Mike Napoli recorded two hits and two runs scored for the Red Sox, who own an 8 1/2-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays atop the American League East. Lester (14-8) allowed one run on three hits in his eighth straight quality start.

CC Sabathia (13-13) was knocked around for five runs on nine hits in six innings - the third time in as many starts against Boston that he has surrendered at least five runs. Robinson Cano drove in his 103rd run with a groundout for the Yankees, who slipped three games behind the Rays in the race for the second AL wild card.

The Red Sox jumped on top on Will Middlebrooks’ RBI groundout in the second and added two runs in the third on Ortiz’s double and Gomes’ single to center.

Curtis Granderson tripled leading off the fourth and scored on Cano’s groundout to get New York on the board. Boston got that run back when Victorino’s single scored David Ross in the bottom of the frame and made it a four-run gap in the next inning, when Napoli walked, moved up on Gomes’ double and scored on Daniel Nava’s sacrifice fly.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Boston’s magic number to clinch the AL East is down to six. … Yankees LF Alfonso Soriano (sprained right thumb) was a late scratch from the starting lineup. … New York activated RHP David Phelps (right forearm strain) from the 60-day disabled list.