Tonight after sweeping the doubleheader yesterday, the New York Yankees took on the Boston Red Sox with the hope of sweeping the series and going even further ahead of the Sox. They were even in the AL East at five games back in the AL East at the beginning of the game. Andrew Heaney faced Nick Pivetta. The Yankees got the 5-2 win and took over the first wild card slot.
In the first inning, Kiki Hernandez flew out to Judge in right for the first out of the game. Hunter Renfroe tapped out to first. Xander Bogaerts hit an opposite-field home run to put the Red Sox up one. Rafael Devers struck out to end the half. DJ LeMahieu went down, looking at the bottom. In his first night back after being on the Covid list, Anthony Rizzo flew out to left-center. Aaron Judge walked. Joey Gallo flew out to left. Boston Red Sox 1 Yankees 0.
The second inning was led off by JT Martinez, who struck out on a foul tip. Then, Keven Palwecki flew out to Judge in right. Finally, Alex Verdugo popped out to short to end the half for a 1-2-3 inning for Heaney.
At the bottom, Giancarlo Stanton led off by hitting a base hit to left field. Rougie Odor walked. Gary Sanchez singled to right, Stanton moved to third, but Odor was called out at second. On review, Odor was safe. Brett Gardner, with the bases loaded and no outs, got a sac fly scoring Stanton. Andrew Velazquez got an RBI single-scoring Odor. Velazquez stole second. LeMahieu lined out to third. Anthony Rizzo singled beyond first, driving in two runs. Judge walked, knocking Pivetta out of the game. Gallo faced the new Sox pitcher Garrett Richards and ground out to second to end the inning, but the Yankees picked up four runs in the inning. New York Yankees 4 Red Sox 1.
The third inning was led off by Bobby Dalbec, who flew out to Judge in right. Christian Vazquez ground out to third. Hernandez struck out to end the half. Stanton, at the bottom, walked. Odor went down on strikes. Sanchez went down swinging. Gardner ground out to second to end the inning. Yankees 4 Sox 1.
Hunter Renfroe led off the fourth by walking. Bogaerts hit into a force out at second. Bogaerts went to second on a wild pitch. Devers ground out with Bogaerts going to third. Martinez ground out to Odor. At the bottom of the inning, it was Velazquez at the plate; he struck out. LeMahieu flew out. Rizzo struck out. Yankees 4 Sox 1.
Kevin Palwecki led off the fifth with a single to left field. Verdugo popped out to Gallo in left. Dalbec was robbed for hit by a jumping LeMahieu. Vazquez popped out to the infield for the final out. Judge led off the bottom by grounding out to first. Gallo struck out, and Stanton gave it a ride but out in the far center. Yankees 4 Sox 1.
The sixth was led off by Hernandez, who walked. Renfroe flew out to right. Bogaerts hit into a double play to end the half. At the bottom, Odor led off by grounding out to first. Sanchez flew out to center. Gardner faced the new Sox pitcher Martin Perez and got an infield single. With two outs and one on, Velazquez went down looking for the final out of the inning. New York Yankees 4 and the Red Sox 1.
Rafael Devers led off the seventh inning and struck out. Martinez flew out to Gallo in left. Kevin Palwecki flew out to center. At the bottom against new Red Sox pitcher, Adam Ottavino ground out in the infield. Rizzo flew out to second. Judge walked. Judge stole second without a throw. Gallo was walked intentionally. Stanton, with two on and two outs, ground out to third, got end another scoreless inning.
At the eight with Zack Britton on the mound, Verdugo struck out looking. Verdugo ground out to short. Vazquez ground out to second. At the bottom, Odor flew out to shallow center. Sanchez got a stand-up double to center. Gardner ground out to first, with Sanchez going to third. Velazquez singled to left with Sanchez scoring. LeMahieu ground out to second to end the inning. New York Yankees 5 Red Sox 1.
The top of the ninth saw the return from the Covid list of closer Aroldis Chapman. Hernandez went down on strikes. Renfroe homered to the left-field stands. Bogaerts walked. Devers ground out directly to Rizzo at first, Bogaerts moved to second. Martinez singled to center, moving Bogaerts to third, and that was it for Chapman. Lucas Luetge trying to nail down his first save in nine years, came in to face Palwecki, who ground out to Velazquez, who fired to Rizzo for the last out that was upheld by review. Yankees swept the Red Sox.
The final score was the New York Yankees 5 and the Red Sox 2. The winning pitcher was Andrew Heaney, and the loser was Nick Pivetta, with Lucas Luetge getting his first save in nine years.