BOSTON - New York Yankees starters failed to record a complete game in all of 2016 - a first for the storied franchise - but Masahiro Tanaka ended that slump this season before April was up.

Tanaka went the distance in fashioning a sparkling three-hitter on Thursday night at Fenway Park as the Yankees blanked the Boston Red Sox 3-0.

Tanaka (3-1) struck out three and threw only 97 pitches for his fifth career complete game - his first since Aug 15, 2015, which was also the last for New York.

"I knew that we were facing a good pitcher in Chris Sale. Knew how important one run could be, so I tried to go out there and put up zeroes," said Tanaka, who earned his 10th win in his past 11 decisions.

"A lot of people thought Chris had the upper hand, the way he was pitching."

Tanaka retired the last 14 batters he faced and only allowed one runner to reach second base as the Yankees earned their fifth straight victory over the rival Red Sox.

Aaron Hicks had two hits and scored twice while Matt Holliday had two hits and two RBIs.

Sale (1-2) nearly matched Tanaka most of the way, allowing only one unearned run over the first eight innings before giving up three straight singles to start the ninth, when the Yankees added two more runs.

"We had a chance going into the ninth," he said. "I just completely took the wind out of the sails."

Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild said Tanaka spoke before the game of the challenge of facing Sale.

"He went toe to toe with Chris Sale," said Rotshschild. "He knew he couldn't afford to give up a whole lot of runs. There was more pressure on him, in a sense, and he really rose to the occasion."

Adding on

Sale stumbled in the fourth, when Hicks singled, took second on a groundout, third on a passed ball and scored on Holliday's sacrifice fly.

The Yankees chased Sale when Hicks, Chase Headley and Holliday all singled to start the ninth and score another run.

Heath Hembree gave up a single to Starlin Castro to make it 3-0 before Aaron Judge popped out to the catcher and Chris Carter grounded into a double play.

In all, Sale was charged with two earned runs and eight hits in eight-plus innings, striking out 10 and walking none.

He joined Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens and Jon Lester as Red Sox pitchers with 10 or more strikeouts in four straight starts.

The Red Sox have scored four runs total in Sale's five starts this season.