By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

The Red Sox scored 14 runs on their road trip and went 2-5 despite their pitchers posting a 2.44 earned run average.

The Yankees came to town Friday night and the Sox scored eight runs on 14 hits. So much for their slump. But their pitchers allowed 10 runs.

"The guys did a great job today. When you score eight runs, you’re supposed to win the game," said Josh Beckett, who allowed five runs in the first inning and six over five innings. I just left too many outs out there. You can’t go five innings and expect to compete every time in this league.”

The Sox took a 7-6 lead into the seventh inning. Bobby Valentine had his bullpen set up. But Andrew Miller walked Curtis Granderson before Alex Rodriguez singled. Miller struck out Robbie Cano. That brought in Vicente Padilla to face Mark Teixeira, one batter earlier than Valentine would have liked.

Teixeira was 2 for 10 against Padilla. But this time he bombed a two-run triple to center. It was the beginning of the end for the Sox.

That’s four losses in a row for the Red Sox, who trail the first-place Yankees by 8½ games in the division. It’s their largest deficit of the season.

“It’s only July,” Adrian Gonzalez said, dismissing the idea that the Red Sox are falling out of the race.

But the Sox are winless in three games against the Yankees this season, giving up 31 runs. With three more games this weekend, the rivalry is all in New York’s favor so far.

“We showed a lot of character coming back,” shortstop Mike Aviles said. “But we needed to find a way to win it.”

One good note for you: Jarrod Saltalamacchia has 17 homers. That's the most for a Sox catcher before the All-Star break since Pudge Fisk had 18 in 1973.

Thanks to everybody for reading. Catch you all day Saturday.