The Empire Strikes First

Mark Teixeira's 2-run triple off reliever Vicente Padilla in the top of the 7th highlighted a 4-run outburst by the Yankees as they came from behind to beat the Red Sox 10-8 Friday night in the first game of a 4-game series at Fenway Park.

The starting pitchers - Hiroki Kuroda for the Yankees and Josh Beckett for Boston - were positively brutal in the early going with each one charged with 5 runs in their first inning of work.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia (pictured) hit a 3-run home run off Kuroda in the bottom of the 1st inning to tie the game.

David Ortiz and Adrian Gonzalez each had three hits; rookie Mauro Gomez added two.