It took a six inning game for the New York Yankees to finally beat the Boston Red Sox. New York hit back to back solo homeruns off Boston reliever Hirokazu Sawumara in the sixth inning and took the rain shortened 3-1 win Saturday night at Yankee Stadium.
It was a good pitchers duel between Nathan Eovaldi and Gerrit Cole. Boston (56-37) took a 1-0 lead when Christian Arroyo singled in Jarren Duran, who had singled in his first ever MLB at bat in the top of the second inning. The score stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth when DJ LeMahieu singled to drive in Greg Allen to even it 1-1. The Sox had a threat in the top of the sixth against Cole, all with two outs as Rafael Devers walked, Hunter Renfoe had an infield single, and Duran also walked. Christian Vazquez though struck out swinging to end the threat. With one out in the bottom half, Gary Sanchez broke the tie taking a 1-2 offering from Sawumara that snuck into the seats in right field. Gleyber Torres also followed with a solo shot to right, and the Yankees ended an eight game losing streak to Boston (now 1-7 this season).
Eovaldi got a no decision allowing one run on two hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Sawumara (4-1) was tagged with the pitching loss. Cole (10-4) allowed one run on five hits with two walks and 11 strikeouts in 6.0 inning to pick up the win for the 47-44 Yankees. The rubber game is scheduled for the national ESPN contest Sunday night at 7:08. The Sox send LHP Martin Perez (7-5, 4.04 ERA) to the mound, while the pinstripers counter with RHP Jameson Taillon (4-4, 4.90).
