September 2, 2017

G136: Yankees 5, Red Sox 1

Red Sox - 000 001 000 - 1  6  1
Yankees - 010 003 10x - 5 10  0
Saturday afternoon's loss seemed much like a reversed image of Friday night's win. In this game, the Red Sox's bats stayed behind at the hotel and a handful of long-hits carried the Yankees to victory.

Matt Holliday's three-run homer in the sixth was the big blow, giving New York a 4-1 lead only minutes after the Red Sox had tied the game. Masahiro Tanaka (7-5-1-2-3, 97) dominated the Red Sox, who saw their division lead drop to 4.5 games.

Chase Headley homered off Drew Pomeranz (5.1-8-4-2-5, 105) in the second inning. Later in the inning, the Yankees had loaded the bases with two outs on a walk and two singles (one of which was fielded by Rafael Devers but thrown late to first), but Pomeranz escaped any further damage when second baseman Tzu-Wei Li darted to his right and made a fine play on Aaron Hicks's hard grounder. Pomeranz allowed only two singles over the next three innings.

Eduardo Nunez doubled to left to open the sixth. He went to third on Andrew Benintendi's grounder to second. With Mookie Betts at the plate, Tanaka's 2-2 pitch caromed away from catcher Gary Sanchez along the first base line. The ball did not go very far, but Nunez had a great jump and slid headfirst across the plate. Betts walked, but Mitch Moreland lined to shortstop and Hanley Ramirez lined to deep center.

In the bottom of the sixth, Pomeranz walked Didi Gregorius. After Headley singled, Holliday blasted his 17th home run of the year to left. After striking out Greg Bird, Pomeranz's day was done. New York tacked on a run in the seventh when Jacoby Ellsbury tripled against Brandon Workman and scored on an infield hit.

Down by four runs in the eighth, Lin singled. David Robertson relieved Tanaka and got two outs before Betts singled. However, Moreland grounded to short and Betts was forced at second. There was no suspense in the ninth as Dellin Betances struck out the side.

One note: Benintendi has driven in 14 runs against the Yankees this year, the most RBI against the Yankees by a Red Sox rookie since Harry Agganis had 15 in 1954. Ted Williams holds the team's all-time record, with 17 RBI in 1939. Benintendi will have one last chance to add to his total tomorrow night.
Drew Pomeranz / Masahiro Tanaka
Nunez, SS
Benintendi, LF
Betts, RF
Moreland, 1B
Ramirez, DH
Devers, 3B
Vazquez, C
Bradley, CF
Lin, 2B
Dustin Pedroia and Matt Barnes returned from the disabled list yesterday. Today, Jackie Bradley rejoins the team. ... And Xander Bogaerts sits for the second straight game.

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