Aaron Judge hit a third inning two run homerun that proved to be the game winner on Friday night, as the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 5-1 in an opener of a three game American League East showdown at Yankee Stadium.
Boston (3-5), who had their two game win streak snapped, took the lead when Michael Chavis hit a solo homer to left center in the third. It was the first of the year for Chavis. The lead didn’t last long though, as DJ LeMahieu led off the bottom of the third with a single to center. Judge then took the next pitch from Sox starter Ryan Weber deep over the center field wall to make it 2-1 Yankees. Boston had a great chance in the fourth as they loaded the bases with one out, but Chavis grounded into a doubleplay to kill the threat. That was the last time in the game that the Sox did threaten, and the last time they had a runner in scoring position. Gio Urshela added a solo homer in the fourth, and Brett Gardner lost one deep into the second deck in right for a two run shot in the eighth to give some breathing room.
Weber (0-2) took the loss for Boston allowing three runs on four hits and four walks in 3.1 innings. Phillips Valdez (2.2 IP) and Austin Brice (1.0 IP) both didn’t allow a run in relief, while Colten Brewer was touched up on the Gardner homerun. Xander Bogaerts had two of the five hits in the Sox loss. Jordan Montgomery (1-0) got the win on the mound in his season debut for the now 5-1 Yankees. Montgomery only allowed one run on five hits in 5.2 innings. Chad Green, Adam Ottavino, and Jonathan Holder didn’t allow a run or hit over the final 3.1 innings. LeMahieu had three hits, while Gleyber Torres and Urshela each had two hits in the New York victory.
One of the most recent acquisitions for Boston will head to the mound in game two Saturday night at 7:07, as Zack Godley toes the rubber. He will be opposed by Masahiro Tanaka for New York.
