BOSTON — Derek Jeter needed one pitch to reach a milestone and get the Yankees going again.

New York's leadoff batter hit the first pitch of the game for a homer, his 2,700th career hit, and the Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox, 8-4, last night with five homers off Josh Beckett.

"We got pitches to hit and we hit them," Jeter said one night after Boston's 14-1 win. "It's not really more complicated than that. When we hit them, we hit them hard."

Yankees starter CC Sabathia became the majors' first 15-game winner but wasn't as sharp as he had been, forcing fans hoping for a pitchers' duel between the AL's only two 14-game winners to settle for a power display.

"Beckett is a great pitcher," Sabathia said, "but this lineup is unbelievable."

Hideki Matsui hit two homers, matching his output of Friday night, and Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez also went deep.

"These are humbling deals," Beckett said. "That was a whupping I got today. That's the only words I've got to sum it up."

Sabathia (15-7) won his fifth straight start but gave up three earned runs and eight hits. He had allowed three runs in his previous three starts. But he had excellent control with eight strikeouts and no walks.

"You take a little solace in the fact that he's been pitching well," said Jason Bay, who struck out in two of his three at-bats against Sabathia. "He pitched well and we still got four runs. Ultimately tonight our guy gave up more."

Beckett (14-5) was hurt by the long ball for the third straight game, allowing a career-high five homers. He's given up 10 in those three games, the same amount he allowed in his other 22. Beckett lasted eight innings but gave up eight runs on nine hits while striking out five and walking none. He allowed seven runs in his previous start.

"He never feels real hittable. He's always an uncomfortable at-bat," Rodriguez said. "Tonight we got our pitches and we didn't miss them."

RANGERS 4, RAYS 0:

Scott Feldman (13-4) struck out a career-high 11 in seven innings to win his fifth consecutive road start and Texas avoided a three-game sweep by beating host Tampa Bay.

Michael Young and Ivan Rodriguez each drove in two runs.

BLUE JAYS 8, ANGELS 3:

Ricky Romero won for the first time in four starts, Travis Snider hit a solo homer and host Toronto won two of three against Los Angeles.

Romero (11-5) moved into a tie with Tampa Bay's Jeff Niemann for the AL rookie lead in wins by allowing two runs and eight hits in six innings.

ATHLETICS 9, TIGERS 4:

Jack Cust hit two homers and drove in four runs, Landon Powell added a three-run shot and host Oakland won two of three against Detroit.

Brett Tomko (3-2) allowed three hits in six innings, striking out eight for Oakland. Miguel Cabrera had three hits, including his 200th home run, and drove in two for the Tigers.

ORIOLES 5, WHITE SOX 4:

Brian Roberts had three hits and Nolan Reimold hit a two-run homer as Baltimore won two of three at Chicago.

Jason Berken (3-11) allowed three runs, two earned, and five hits in 5 2/3 innings for Baltimore.

TWINS 10, ROYALS 3:

Michael Cuddyer homered twice in Minnesota's eight-run seventh inning and Denard Span added a three-run triple, helping the Twins sweep the three-game series at Kansas City.

Cuddyer became the first Twins player to hit two homers in an inning and the first in the majors since Boston's David Ortiz did it against Texas last August.

INDIANS 6, MARINERS 1:

Fausto Carmona (3-8) allowed five hits in seven innings, Jhonny Peralta homered and drove in two runs, and host Cleveland won two of three against Seattle.

Carmona gave up Ken Griffey Jr.'s 624th homer, but had a season-high eight strikeouts.