Yankees 5, Red Sox 2: Hiroki Kuroda worked seven strong innings and Lyle Overbay doubled twice as visiting New York evened the series with rival Boston.

Brett Gardner added three hits and an RBI and Eduardo Nunez had three hits for the Yankees, who snapped a three-game slide. Kuroda (9-6) allowed two runs and five hits to beat the Red Sox for the first time in three tries this season.

David Ortiz and Mike Carp combined for five hits and two runs scored as Boston had its lead over Tampa Bay in the American League East trimmed to 1 1/2 games. John Lackey (7-7) was reached for four runs on 10 hits in 6 1/3 frames to end a stretch of six straight quality starts.

The Red Sox had two runners thrown out at the plate early in the game while New York took the lead. Gardner singled in Luis Cruz to open the scoring in the fifth, and Cruz, Robinson Cano and Overbay each singled in a run in the seventh as the Yankees stretched the lead to 4-0.

Boston got to Kuroda and snapped his 18-inning scoreless streak in the bottom of the seventh when Jonny Gomes’ sacrifice fly plated Ortiz. Carp scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit in half, but David Robertson pitched a scoreless eighth and Mariano Rivera worked around a single in the ninth for his 31st save.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Red Sox activated SS Stephen Drew (hamstring) from the 15-day disabled list and optioned INF Brock Holt to Triple-A Pawtucket. … New York placed OF Zoilo Almonte (ankle) on the 15-day DL and designated INF Alberto Gonzalez for assignment. OFs Thomas Neal and Melky Mesa were recalled from Triple-A. … Boston threatened in the eighth until Yankees C Chris Stewart reached into the stands to snag a pop up and alertly fired to second to get Daniel Nava trying to advance for an inning-ending double play.