Pearce’s 3 HRs add to Yankees’ woes

BOSTON — Steve Pearce homered three times as the Red Sox rallied from an early deficit to rout Yankees 15-7 on Thursday night and take a season-high 6 ⁄ -game lead in the AL East.

The Red Sox took advantage of Yankees manager Aaron Boone’s decision to pull starter CC Sabathia after three innings with a 4-2 lead. Jonathan Holder faced seven batters and did not record an out in an eight-run fourth.

Mookie Betts had four hits and two walks, reaching safely all six times he came to the plate. Pearce, J.D. Martinez, Ian Kinsler and Andrew Benintendi had three hits apiece for the Red Sox, who have won five of their last six and matched a season high at 42 games above .500.

Didi Grigorius homered twice and Aaron Hicks and Giancarlo Stanton once each for the Yankees.

Before the game, the Yankees announced that right-hander Sonny Gray would be replaced in the rotation by righty Lance Lynn, acquired from the Twins at the trade deadline.

General manager Brian Cashman confirmed that Gray had been ousted from the rotation one day after his latest poor start. Gray lasted just 2 ⁄ innings and allowed seven runs in a loss to the lowly Orioles.

Gray (8-8, 5.56) has made it through the third inning in just three of his last six starts.

Lynn was 7-8 with a 4.89 ERA in 20 starts with the Twins. He relieved Gray on Wednesday night and worked 4 ⁄ shutout innings, striking out five and allowing five hits.

The Yankees also put lefthander J.A. Happ on the disabled list with hand, foot and mouth disease. Happ had a sterling Yankees debut against the Royals, when he allowed one run on three hits in six innings.