TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Andy Pettitte allowed two hits in four scoreless innings as the New York Yankees beat a Boston Red Sox spilt-squad 6-3 Thursday night.

Pettitte retired his first eight batters. He struck out two during his 40-pitch outing.

The left-hander has given up three runs over 8 2-3 innings in three spring starts. It was the first time this year Pettitte has thrown his cutter.

“I had a couple strikeouts on cutters,” Pettitte said. “It was nice to throw those and feel good with it.”

After being slowed by left shoulder tendinitis early last season, Pettitte won 11 of his final 13 decisions. He hasn’t experienced any problems this spring.

“I felt great,” Pettitte said. “I cut loose a little more tonight. It was good to go four innings with a low pitch count.”

Hideki Matsui put the Yankees up 1-0 with an RBI triple in the fourth-inning. John Flaherty’s sacrifice fly made it 2-0 in the fifth.

Boston tied it at 2 on Todd Walker’s two-run single in the sixth off reliever Randy Choate.

Enrique Wilson’s two-run double and Chris Widger’s two-run single off Tom Davey in the bottom half gave New York a 6-2 lead.

Davey allowed five runs and six hits in 1 2-3 innings.

Yankees closer Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth, giving up two hits and an unearned run.

Boston starter Robert Person allowed one hit over two scoreless innings. He struck out one and walked one.

Notes: Hall of Famer and Yankees’ spring training instructor Yogi Berra threw out the ceremonial first pitch. … Matsui has two triples this spring. He had 16 regular season triples during his 10-year career in Japan.

Red Sox 8, Twins 4

Julio Zuleta, trying to earn a job with the Boston Red Sox, had three hits and five RBIs Thursday as the Boston Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 8-4 in a split-squad game.

Zuleta, among five young players vying for time at first base and designated hitter, hit a two-run single in the first inning, a two-run single in the fifth and a solo homer in the seventh.

Zuleta spent the past three years shuttling between the Chicago Cubs and their Triple-A affiliate in Iowa.

“I’m just here to do my job whenever Grady gives me a chance to play and show him what I can do,” he said, referring to manager Grady Little.

Jeremy Giambi, Kevin Millar, David Ortiz and Shea Hillenbrand are competing with Zuleta.

Boston’s Manny Ramirez went 2-for-2 to raise his average to .565 (13-for-23). Nomar Garciaparra also had two hits for the Red Sox. Lou Collier had two hits, including an eighth-inning home run.

Minnesota’s Michael Ryan had a home run and two RBIs.

Boston starter Derek Lowe gave up two runs and three hits on three innings against Minnesota.

Winner Brandon Lyon gave up one run and three hits in three innings, while Minnesota starter Johan Santana allowed two runs and five hits in three innings.

With left-hander Eric Milton on the 60-day disabled list following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, Santana figured to begin the season in the Twins’ rotation. But Minnesota’s signing of veteran lefty Kenny Rogers bumped him from the starting rotation.

“They told me that I was the sixth starter on this team, and that if any of these guys go down, I was going replace them,” Santana said. “Now everything has changed. It’s not easy, but I have to play my game.”

Minnesota’s Jeromy Palki, who gave up three runs and four hits in two innings, was the loser.

Notes: Boston RHP Bobby Howry pitched Thursday after missing a week with a sore arm. He gave up the home run to Ryan, the first batter he faced, but Little said it was more important that Howry pitched pain-free … Boston CF Johnny Damon is expected to be out until Saturday with a sore left elbow … Twins 1B Todd Sears is hitting .394 this spring.