By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com BOSTON -- A.J. Burnett continues to search for answers to what ails him at Fenway Park, having served up eight earned runs in 4 1/3 innings as the Yankees were pounded by the Red Sox on Sunday, 9-3. After admitting earlier this year that he might have been too caught up the rivalry, Burnett has now allowed 31 earned runs in 22 innings pitched at Boston as a Yankee -- a 12.68 ERA. He had won all three of his previous starts on Yawkey Way before donning the Yankees uniform, making his continuing struggles somewhat perplexing. Jeremy Hermida hit a two-run homer and had three RBIs, while Adrian Beltre cracked a two-run double to lead the Boston charge against Burnett, who also served up run-scoring hits to David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis. Burnett allowed nine runs, one of which was unearned, while walking three and striking out four to be hit for his first loss of the year after remaining undefeated through six starts. Nick Swisher and Alex Rodriguez homered in the third inning to account for the only scoring against Red Sox starter Jon Lester, who limited New York to four hits in seven innings, walking two and striking out seven. A-Rod's homer was the 586th of his career, pulling him even with Frank Robinson for seventh place on baseball's all-time list. For Rodriguez, the shot over the Green Monster also snapped a personal homerless streak that had spanned 61 at-bats.
