The Boston Red Sox can’t catch a break against the New York Yankees powerful lineup, that doesn’t include the “Smash Brothers.” Just like last year with that “next man up” mentality, the lineup continues to punish Red Sox pitching, even the Red Sox best, at the moment, Nathan Eovaldi.
However, the win was not without some devastating news for the Yankees. AL’s leading hitter DJ LeMahieu left the game with a bruised thumb. DJ took a pitch from Red Sox pitcher Eovaldi and immediately started to pace around the plate favoring his hand. Manager Boone and the trainer responded, but DJ stayed in the game. He was removed after the fifth inning. X-rays were taken and were negative, however, he was sent to the hospital for an MRI. Likely, the second baseman will at least miss a few games.
LeMahieu broke the same thumb when he was with the Colorado Rockies, and still, today wears a protective insert in his glove. The Yankees hope that the injury is not significant and that he won’t lose much playing time in this short season. The Yankees already have slugger Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) and star Aaron Judge (calf) on the IL.
The New York Yankees James Paxton, who has had a slow start this season, improved, but still struggled some, going five innings, giving up three runs while walking one and striking out two. He was followed by Jonathan Loaisgia and Luis Avilan, who both denied the Red Sox in the next two innings. Coming in in the eighth inning, was Luis Cessa, who closed out the game allowing two Red Sox runs.
The offense was the name of the game last night as the Yankees bested the Red Sox best available pitcher, ex-Yankee Nathan Eovaldi. At the bottom of the first inning, Luke Voit singled and Gio Urshela slammed a long ball in the right-field stands, for the early Yankee 2-0 lead. At the top of the third is when Paxton had his struggles allowing the Red Sox to take a 3-2 lead, their only lead of the night. Paxton stayed in the game.
At the bottom of the fourth inning with one on the catcher, Gary Sanchez took the lead back with a monster shot into the left-field stands. His second home run in as many nights. At the bottom of the sixth inning, the Yankees pretty much sealed the deal, with two on rising star Clint Frazier sent one into the left-field seats scoring a three-run homer. Then Tyler Wade replacing LeMahieu in the lineup doubled driving in Brett Garnder for the Yankee 8-3 lead.
The bottom of the seventh inning was no different for the Yankee offense. With the bases loaded, Clint Frazier came to the plate and singled driving in two more runs for the Yankees, and it was 10-3 Yankees. Frazier drove in five runs with just three hits on the night. Brett Gardner finished the scoring for the Yankees with a single driving in Gary Sanchez, for the Yankees final of 11 runs. At the top of the ninth, the Red Sox threatened and Luis Cessa allowed two runs for the Sox, for the final score of Yankees 11, and the Red Sox 5.
For the New York Yankees, it was another night of long ball and small ball that got them the win. Most all of the Yankees got in on the action. Tauchman scored three runs, Ushela and an improved Gary Sanchez both scored two runs on the night. Voit, Torres, and Gardner all scored a run, but Clint Frazier was the star of the game with his five RBI’s on the night. He also made the defensive play of the night with an amazing diving catch.
The Red Sox pitching again failed them. Starter Nathan Eovaldi was hammered for eight runs in the game and took the loss. James Paxton got the win for the Yankees. On Sunday night the Yankees will send out J.A. Happ to face Chris Mazza of the Red Sox, as the Yankees go for the series win.