BOSTON — Robinson Cano homered and drove in three runs, Andy Pettitte gave the Yankees another strong start and New York beat the Boston Red Sox 10-3 today for its season-best eighth straight win.

The Yankees closed within one game of second-place Boston in the AL East and remained unbeaten since the All-Star break. Tampa Bay began the day with a one-game lead over the Red Sox.

Newly acquired Xavier Nady started in left field in his first game with New York, and reliever Damaso Marte struck out David Ortiz in a key spot. The Yankees finalized their deal with Pittsburgh on Saturday, acquiring Nady and Marte for four minor leaguers.

Alex Rodriguez was drilled on the left arm by Red Sox reliever Craig Hansen in the eighth and fans cheered. Rodriguez stayed in the game before being replaced at third base in the bottom half by Wilson Betemit.

In New York's 1-0 win in the opener Friday night, Joba Chamberlain drew the ire of Boston's bench after he threw a high, inside pitch that sent Kevin Youkilis to the ground in the seventh.

Cano went 3-for-4 with his ninth homer and a two-run double Saturday, improving to 18-for-34 since the All-Star break.

Pettitte (12-7) allowed one earned run and struck out seven over six innings to continue a brilliant run by New York starters. They've allowed three earned runs or less in 15 of their last 16 games.

Marte entered with runners at first and second and one out in the seventh and struck out Ortiz on four pitches. Edwar Ramirez then retired Manny Ramirez on a fly to center.

Manny Ramirez, who missed the series opener with what he said was a sore right knee, batted fourth and went 0-for-4, ending an 11-game hitting streak. Manager Terry Francona said MRIs on both knees "came back fine" but wouldn't say if his slugger was disciplined.

Rodriguez's first-inning error led to two unearned runs but Bobby Abreu singled in a run in the third and the Yankees took the lead for good in the fourth on Cano's homer and Johnny Damon's RBI single.

New York pushed across four more runs in the sixth, chasing Tim Wakefield (6-8). Johnny Damon drove in Nady with a fielder's choice before rookie reliever Justin Masterson entered.

Masterson, who retired all eight batters Wednesday in his only relief appearance after nine starts, allowed RBI hits to all three hitters he faced — a single by Derek Jeter, a double by Abreu and a single by Rodriguez.