BOSTON -- Alex Rodriguez tied Willie Mays for fourth on the all-time home run list, hitting his 660th career homer on a 3-0 fastball in the eighth inning to give the Yankees a 3-2 win over the Red Sox in the opener of a three-game weekend set at Fenway Park on Friday night.

It was the first career pinch-hit home run for the Yankees infielder, who was originally given the night off before replacing designated hitter Garrett Jones with one out in the eighth in a 2-2 game.

New York (14-9) won for the fourth time in its last five games and handed Boston (12-11) its first series-opening loss of the season after winning seven in a row entering Friday.

After a solo home run from right fielder Allen Craig gave the Red Sox a 2-1 lead in the fourth, Yankees catcher Brian McCann tied the game with an RBI-single to left in the seventh.

Rodriguez’s milestone shot an inning later provided New York with the game-winning run.

C.C. Sabathia did not receive a decision, with the Yankees left-hander giving up two earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three in 6.0 innings. Right-hander Esmil Rodgers earned the win in relief and Andrew Miller pitched a scoreless ninth for his ninth save.

Justin Masterson also received a no-decision, as the Red Sox right-hander allowed two earned runs on six hits and three walks and striking out a pair. Right-hander Junichi Tazawa was the losing pitcher after giving up the home run to Rodriguez.

Jacoby Ellsbury led off the game with a single to right, and a walk from first baseman Mark Teixeira moved the center fielder to second base with one out.

Right fielder Carlos Beltran rifled an 0-1 fastball to the gap in left-center to plate Ellsbury, giving the Yankees an early 1-0 lead after the top of the first inning.

Xander Bogaerts gave Boston's offense the jolt it needed in the third. A leadoff liner down the third-base line reached the wall in left, allowing the shortstop to reach second without a throw.

A sacrifice fly to deep left-center from catcher Ryan Hanigan moved Bogaerts to third, and center fielder Mookie Betts followed up with a sac fly to center, tying the game.

Masterson worked his way out of a jam in the fourth, fanning designated hitter Garrett Jones and forcing second baseman Stephen Drew to ground out to strand runners on second and third.

Craig deposited a solo home run into the first row of the Green Monster in left on a 1-0 fastball with two outs in the fourth, giving Boston a 2-1 lead.

Interference cost the Red Sox a run later in the frame as Hanigan's line-hugging hit to left was touched by a fan, reverting it to a ground-rule double and bringing Bogaerts back to third.

Masterson found himself in trouble again in the fifth -- loading the bases on Ellsbury's single, a walk to Teixeira, and a hit-by-pitch to McCann with two away -- but he skirted danger once more by forcing Beltran to ground out to first and preserve the one-run lead.

NOTES: The Yankees went with an all-lefty lineup against a right-handed pitcher. "A product of (Red Sox starting RHP Justin) Masterson," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. ... New York LHP C.C. Sabathia was 0-4 entering play and winless in his last six outings. ... Boston OF/1B Allen Craig made his third start of 2015 in right field against Sabathia. "Trying to get another right-hander in the lineup," manager John Farrell said. ... Red Sox CF Rusney Castillo (shoulder) was the DH for Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday. "There's no target (return) date to even consider," Farrell said. ... Boston OF Shane Victorino (hamstring) might begin a rehab assignment next week.