The New York Yankees used a pair of six run innings and built an 11 run lead, before holding off a rally from the Boston Red Sox for a 17-13 win Saturday at London Stadium in London, England. The game was the first of two on the weekend as part of the MLB London Series.
New York (53-28) knocked out Boston starter Rick Porcello after just 1/3 of an inning as the Yankees immediately took a six run lead in the top of the first. A two run double from Didi Gregorious and a two run homer from Aaron Hicks highlighted the first at bat for NY playing as the visitors. Boston (44-39) came right back with their own six spot in the bottom of the first returning the favor and knocking out New York starter Masahiro Tanaka after just 2/3 of an inning. Rafael Devers had an RBI double, Christian Vazquez an RBI sacrifice fly, and Brock Holt an RBI single to cut it to 6-3. Michael Chavis then hit a three run homer to tie the score 6-6. It was the 13th homer for the first baseman.
The Yankees then opened it up and looked as though they would cruise to the win. Brett Gardner hit a two run homer in the third off Steven Wright to make it 8-6 New York. The second six run outburst came in the fourth inning. The key hits were a three run double from DJ LeMahieu, and a two run homer from Aaron Judge to make it 14-6. Gregorius hit an RBI single in the fifth, and LeMahieu added a two run single for an 11 run lead. Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth for Boston, and then the Red Sox put up a six spot in the seventh. Chavis hit his second three run homer of the game to make it 17-10, Marco Hernandez singled in a run, Mookie Betts scored on a wild pitch, and JD Martinez doubled in the final run of the inning to all of a sudden make it a four run game.
Hernandez came up with the bases loaded against Yankees reliever Zack Britton in the bottom of the eighth amazingly representing the tying run. Britton though retired Hernandez on a groundout. The Red Sox got one runner on in the ninth against New York closer Aroldis Chapman, but Sam Travis grounded into a double play to stop any threat and end the game.
Wright (0-1) ended up as the losing pitcher allowing two runs on five hits in 2.0 innings. Josh Taylor, Ryan Brasier, Hector Velazquez, and Marcus Walden pitched 4.2 innings of scoreless relief to help the Red Sox get back into the game. Chavis was the offensive leader with the two homeruns and six RBI. Bradley Jr. had four hits, Martinez had three, while Devers and Sandy Leon had two a piece. Chad Green (2-2) won in relief for the first place Yankees with two scoreless innings. Each team used eight pitchers in the game. LeMahieu led the way with four hits and five RBI. Luke Voit had three hits. Judge, Gregorius, Hicks, and Gleybur Torres all had two hits. New York outhit Boston 19-18.
The teams conclude the two games series in England with a 10:10 a.m. United States Eastern Time start on Sunday. Boston sends lefty Eduardo Rodriguez to the hill, while New York will counter with lefty Nestor Cortes Jr. The Yankees have now won five out of the six meetings so far this season against the Red Sox.
