BOSTON — It was a wild weekend at Fenway Park and last night didn’t disappoint.

The Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez belted an opposite-field solo home run in the top of the ninth inning off Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon en route to a 6-5 victory in a four-plus hour marathon that ended in the rain.

Rodriguez took a lot of grief from Red Sox fans during this three-game set for all the on- and off-field distractions he has caused his teammates of late, so it was a little ironic he would be the hero for New York last night. His 20th homer of the season landed in the Sox’ bullpen. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera earned his fifth save of the season.

All of Boston’s offense came in the five-run fifth inning.

At the start of the night, it was supposed to be Josh Beckett’s night. After all, the Red Sox starter was attempting to improve on his 8-0 record, but had to settle for a no-decision. Red Sox lefty specialist Hideki Okajima surrendered the game-tying run, an RBI-triple by the Yankees’ Robinson Cano, in the eighth inning for his third blown save of the season before Papelbon allowed the Rodriguez’s round-tripper as New York won the series, 2-1.

For Beckett, it’s been a solid season so far. Like most professional athletes, the Sox’ righty is an intense competitor. But he’s lost a little edge to his game this season and it’s been for the best.

He’s always had that I-want-to-see-your-best-because-here’s-my-best attitude, which at times got him in trouble. During his first season with the Red Sox a year ago, Beckett would challenge hitters maybe a little too much, and that hurt him.

Not that having a confident attitude is a bad thing, but the Red Sox just wanted him to ease back when appropriate.

It has worked this season.

Beckett entered last night’s game with an 8-0 record and left the game with a one-run lead and one out in the top of the seventh inning. He allowed four earned runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and three walks and threw 117 pitches (77 for strikes). Though he got a no-decision for his efforts, it was clear once again that he’s a different pitcher from a year ago.

“He got into some situations last year where harder was better,” said Francona. “In situations during a game where maybe you want to gear down or get off the fastball, he was trying to throw it through everybody.”

Francona admitted when Beckett would fall into that method, his fastball would stay elevated and flat, which allowed opponents to take their liberties. But when pitchers and catchers reported to spring training last February to prepare for this season, the manager said he saw a significant change with Beckett’s pitching.

“From the first moment of spring training, literally when he was throwing on the back fields, his fastball was down with movement with a lot of finish,” said Francona. “His breaking ball was very consistent and showing a changeup that puts a third pitch into hitters’ heads. That’s a pretty good combination.”

Beckett posted a 16-11 record in 2006 with a 5.01 ERA and reached career-highs with wins, starts (33) and innings (204 2/3). All that and the Red Sox thought if he tweaked a couple of things here and there, maybe he could be even better.

“This kid is 26 years old and some of the things we wanted him to do last year right in the middle of the season he wasn’t capable of,” said Francona.

Francona said he wanted Beckett to throw his curveball more last season, but the fear of incurring blister problems — which plagued him when he was with the Marlins — prevented him from doing that. So he worked on it during the winter and the results have certainly shown. Some of it also has to do with the fact Beckett was able to build a solid relationship with his new pitching coach John Farrell prior to the season.

Boston’s new pitching coach made it a point to establish an early relationship with his staff, study videos and make personal meet-and-greets prior to spring training.

“I think they have a great relationship,” said Francona. “I think John has done a great job with everybody.”

Fast forward to this season and Beckett is a new man.

The right-hander became just the 10th Red Sox pitcher ever to reach 8-0 in his first eight starts when he returned from the disabled last Tuesday — he missed two starts with an avulsion on his right middle finger — and beat the Cleveland Indians.

Even though he got himself into some jams last night against the Yankees, he worked out of them and certainly received some help from his defense and offense.

After Beckett’s exit in the seventh with one out and one on, lefty specialist Javier Lopez faced one batter and allowed a hit. Francona then went with Brendan Donnelly, who faced one batter and got Alex Rodriguez to pop out to short before lefty reliever Hideki Okajima got Jorge Posada to fly out to center to end the threat.

jmcdonal@projo.com