The Boston Red Sox rallied from behind twice late on Thursday night, taking a wild 5-4 victory over the New York Yankees in 10 innings at Fenway Park in the opener of a four game series.
New York (50-45), who had taken a 3-1 lead on a Giancarlo Stanton RBI single and a Gleyber Torres sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth inning, was hoping to reduce their deficit in the A.L. East to six games with a victory. The home Sox though had other thoughts. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Alex Verdugo and Bobby Dalbec both singled. Pinch hitter Kevin Plawecki then lined out to left field. Kike Hernandez on a 1-0 pitch would deliver with a line drive two-run double to left off Chad Green scoring Verdugo and pinch runner Jarren Duran to send the game to extras. The Yankees took the lead again on a Brett Gardner sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th. Boston (59-38) would send the crowd home happy though, thanks to four wild pitches by New York reliever Brooks Kriske in the bottom half. The second wild pitch of the inning scored Rafael Devers to tie it. After Xander Bogaerts walked and advanced to third on two more wild pitches by Kriske, Hunter Renfoe lifted a one out sacrifice fly to score Bogaerts easily to end it in walkoff fashion.
Tanner Houck started on the mound for Boston and got a no decision allowing one run (none earned) on two hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in 4.2 innings. Matt Barnes (5-2) did allow one run in the 10th inning but picked up the win. Alex Verdugo had three hits, while Dalbec had two. Jordan Montgomery started for New York also getting a no decision, while Sal Romano and Luis Cessa both got a hold and Lucas Luetge, Green, and Kriske all got charged with blown saves with Kriske (1-1) also tagged with the loss. New York was held to four hits on the night. Game two Friday night features LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (7-5, 5.19 ERA) on the hill for the Sox, to be opposed by RHP Gerrit Cole (10-4, 2.63) for the Yankees.
