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BOSTON (AP) -- A difficult return for Curt Schilling.

Pitching in the majors for the first time since late April, the

Red Sox right-hander gave up a double to Gary Sheffield and a home run to Alex Rodriguez to take the loss in an 8-to-6 setback to the Yankees.

New York moved within one-and-a-half games of the first-place Red Sox in the A-L East.

Tom Gordon (3-3) pitched one hitless inning, and Mariano Rivera struck out all three batters in the ninth for his 21^st save in 23 tries.

Jason Giambi, Bernie Williams and Sheffield also homered for the Yankees.

Schilling (1-3) is coming off ankle surgery. When Keith Foulke went on the disabled list the Red Sox decided to put their ace in the bullpen to plug the gap.

It was a night of missed opportunities for the Red Sox, who took a 4-to-0 first inning lead but could not hold on.