BOSTON -- Andy Pettitte changed his ways.

Alfonso Soriano just keeps going.

The New York Yankees outfielder had three hits and drove in four more runs -- giving him 18 RBIs in his last four games -- and Pettitte avoided his recent first-inning troubles to lead New York to a 10-3 victory against the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox on Friday night.

Soriano, who was traded to New York from the Chicago Cubs last month, was 3-for-4 with a hit-by-pitch and a three-run homer in the third that made it 6-0. The 18 RBIs tie the MLB record for most in a four-game span, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

"Here we go again," Soriano said as he approached reporters after the game. "I think the motivation [is] going back to the Yankees, trying to help the team win."

The Yankees won for the fifth time in six games and sent the Red Sox to their third consecutive loss. With Tampa Bay's victory against Toronto, Boston's lead in the division was trimmed to one game; the Yankees are 7½ games back in the division and 5½ back in the AL wild-card race.

"You're looking at a powerful right-handed hitter in the middle of the lineup who caught fire since he came over," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "It's had an enormous [impact] on their offense."

Alex Rodriguez had a pair of singles while getting booed loudly in his first appearance in Boston since he was suspended 211 games in baseball's latest steroid scandal. Rodriguez, who is allowed to play pending his appeal, was also mocked by fans with chants of "You do steroids" and signs that said, "A-Roid" and "AFraud."

"That reaction was pretty close to usual," he said. "We're in playoff baseball. Every game means the world to us. We're trying to stay very focused in here."

Pettitte (8-9) had allowed a run in the first inning in a franchise-record eight consecutive starts. But this time he retired the first eight Red Sox batters before Will Middlebrooks singled in the third. In all, Pettitte allowed three runs -- none earned -- on six hits and a walk, striking out five in 6 2-3 innings to win for the first time in six starts.

"It was one of those nights were I felt like everything was working," Pettitte said. "It was a big win for us. We've got to win this series. We've got to win a lot of series."