J.D. Drew hit an RBI single to spark an eighth-inning rally, then scored the go-ahead run on Mike Lowell’s fly ball Thursday night to help the Boston Red Sox beat New York 4-3 and improve to 8-0 against the Yankees this year.

It’s the first time the Red Sox have opened the season with eight straight wins against their New York rivals since they helped christen the brand-new Fenway Park by winning the first 14 matchups against the Highlanders in 1912.

The teams don’t meet again until Aug. 6.

Takashi Saito (1-0) earned his first AL victory with four outs of scoreless relief, and Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his 16th save. David Ortiz hit his third homer in five games.