Phil Hughes pitches Yankees past Red Sox - MLB

The Yankees held serve with the Orioles by beating the Red Sox 2-0 in a breezy 3 hours, 11 minutes on Thursday night.

The win kept the Yankees in a tie for first place in the AL East.

It was the lowest scoring game between the two teams in 59 games dating back to Aug. 7, 2009. That contest was scoreless until the bottom of the 15th, when Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run homer to end it.

Phil Hughes was the person most responsible for making this a (relatively) quick affair. He pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings, walking just one batter in a 95-pitch effort. The Red Sox walked seven, in comparison. Five of those came from starter Felix Doubront, but the lefty turned in a solid outing anyway, allowing two runs in 6 1/3 innings. It was his fourth quality start against the Yankees this year.

Andruw Jones and Derek Jeter knocked in the runs for the Yankees. Jeter was used as a DH tonight after leaving Wednesday’s game with a bone bruise in his left ankle.

The Red Sox were missing their best healthy hitter. Dustin Pedroia left the team last night to be wife his wife when she gave birth today.

LOS ANGELES — Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson, and Tommy Kahnle were activated by the New York Yankees ahead of their weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

New York cleared three roster spots after a 1-0 loss at Seattle, optioning infielder-outfielders Oswaldo Cabrera and Franchy Cordero to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre along with left-hander Matt Krook.

Stanton, Donaldson and Kahnle all played in a rehab game for Double-A Somerset. Stanton was hitless in three at-bats in his first appearance since injuring his left hamstring on April 15.

Donaldson went 1 for 4 in his fourth rehab game as he comes back from a strained right hamstring originally sustained on April 5.

Kahnle pitched one inning, giving up one run and one hit and walking two. He has been out since spring training with right biceps tendinitis.

Aaron Boone said he wasn’t concerned about Stanton returning after playing in just one rehab game. He did say that Stanton likely will be a designated hitter for a couple of weeks after rejoining the Yankees.

New York is missing centerfielder Harrison Bader, who strained his right hamstring against the Mariners and went on the injured list the next day.

Left-hander Carlos Rodón, sidelined since spring training by a sore left forearm and an ailing back, was transferred to the 60-day injured list.