Aaron Hicks hit a tiebreaking two run single in the bottom of the third inning Friday night and J.A. Happ outpitched Chris Sale, as the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1 at Yankee Stadium.
Happ went a 5.0 innings allowing just one earned on three hits as the Yankees then used their solid bullpen to shut down the Sox the rest of the way. Rafael Devers had given Boston a 1-0 in the top of the second with a solo homer to right field. But in the third inning New York (37-19) struck back to tie the game on a DJ LeMahieu RBI double, and then the Hicks two run single that ended up as the game winner. LaMahieu finished off the scoring with a solo homer to center field in the fifth.
Boston (29-28) only managed five hits led by Jackie Bradley Jr who continued his hot hitting of late with a pair of singles. Sale (1-7) allowed four runs, seven hits, with one walk, and 10 strikeouts in another outing with no run support behind him. Adam Ottavino, Tommy Kahnle, Zack Britton, and Aroldis Chapman each fired an inning of scoreless relief behind Happ. Chapman picked up his 16th save with two strikeouts in the ninth. LeMahieu and Gio Urshela each had two hits for the first place Yankees who are now up 1.5 games on second place Tampa, and 8.5 games up on third place Boston.
The Red Sox will try to break their three game losing streak on Saturday night at 7:15 p.m. in game two of the weekend series. A pair of righties will take the mound as Boston sends Rick Porcello to the bump, to be opposed by Domingo German for New York.
