Hicks’ three homers help power Yankees

Aaron Hicks hit three home runs and the New York Yankees pummeled David Price again, connecting five times in the first four innings Sunday night on the way to an 11-1 rout of the Boston Red Sox.

Luis Severino became the first 13-game winner in the majors, cruising through 6 2/3 shutout innings of two-hit ball.

With the teams trading blowouts all weekend, the Yankees (54-27) took two of three from their longtime rivals to regain baseball’s best record and first place in the AL East.

Hitting leadoff, Hicks homered twice from the right side of the plate and once from the left. He smacked a two-run shot to right field in the second inning and a solo drive to center in the fourth that chased Price (9-6) and made it 8-0.

Hicks pulled his 14th of the season into the right-field stands in the eighth off Hector Velazquez. PHILLIES 4, NATIONALS 3 (13) >> Pinch-hitter Andrew Knapp hit a game-ending homer just inside the right field foul pole in the 13th inning as Philadelphia came from behind to beat Washington. Earlier in the day, Philadelphia placed right-handed starting pitcher Vince Velasquez on the 10-day disabled list with a right forearm contusion.

CUBS 11, TWINS 10 >> Jon Lester hit a three-run homer that highlighted an eight-run burst in the second inning and wound up with his NL-leading 11th win as Chicago held off Minnesota. Ian Happ also homered for the Cubs, who have scored at least 10 runs in four straight games for the first time since 1930. Lester (11-2) allowed four runs, two of them earned, and nine hits in fiveplus innings.

MARINERS 1, ROYALS 0 >> James Paxton (8-2) limited Kansas City to two hits and struck out 11 in eight innings and Seattle beat the Royals for its season-best seventh consecutive victory.