Andrew Benintendi smacked two three-run homers, becoming the youngest Red Sox player in the last 96 years to record a six-RBI game against the Yankees, leading the Sox to a 10-5 victory over New York.
Benintendi hit his first homer of the afternoon in the third, and added a second in the fifth. In both innings, the Sox scored five times. Mookie Betts and Rafael Devers each added two RBI each.
Drew Pomeranz was tagged for a two-run homer by Gary Sanchez in the first, but allowed just one more run over his next 5.2 innings of work, improving to 12-4. Pomeranz hasn't lost in more than two months, dating back to a June 11 start against Detroit.
The Sox chased New York starter Luis Severino, who had his worst outing of the season, pounded for 10 runs (eight earned) in 4.1 innings of work.
The Yankees got solo homers from Chase Headley and Jacoby Ellsbury off Robby Scott in the ninth.
The win re-established the Red Sox' 4.5 game lead in the A.L. East.
GAME NO.: 116
WHO: Red Sox (65-50) vs New York Yankees (61-53)
WHEN: 4:05 p.m.
WHERE: Yankee Stadium
TV: NESN/FS1
RADIO: WEEI (93.7 FM)
PITCHERS: Drew Pomeranz (11-4, 3.36) vs. Luis Severino (9-4, 2.91)
BOX SCORE: MLB Gameday
SERIES TO DATE: The Yankees won the opener of the series Friday with a five-run eighth inning, then held off the Sox’ rally effort in the ninth. The Yankees are 7-3 against the Red Sox this season.
WHERE THINGS STAND: Boston’s eight-game winning streak is over and the lead, which was six outs away from growing to 5.5 games in the A.L. East, was cut to 3.5 games. The Yankees are 4-4 in their last eight games as they attempt to shave more off the Red Sox’ lead.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Pomeranz is 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA in two starts against the Yankees this season. Gary Sanchez (4-for-10, two homers, 10 RBI) has had great success against him in the past, as has Didi Gregorius (6-for-14, homer, two RBI). Severino has limited the Sox to a single earned run in 14 innings this season. Andrew Benintendi (4-for-8) has hit him well.
STAT OF NOTE: The Sox are 31-14 in games started by their next two starting pitchers: Pomeranz and Chris Sale.
LINEUPS:
RED SOX
Nunez 2B
Betts RF
Benintendi LF
Ramirez DH
Moreland 1B
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Vazquez C
Bradley Jr. CF
NEW YORK:
Gardner LF
Hicks RF
Judge DH
Sanchez C
Gregorius SS
Frazier 3B
Headley 1B
Ellsbury CF
Torreyes 2B
PRE-GAME NOTES:
- For the second straight day, David Price threw from a distance of 120 feet. He again spun some breaking balls, albeit on flat ground. "Two straight good work days for him,'' said John Farrell. "We'll check and see how he is when he comes tomorrow. The volume and distance of throwing (going forward) will be determined at that point.''
- The Red Sox are just 3-for-64 with runners in scoring position against the Yankees in 10 meetings this year. "Quality pitching on their part,'' said Farrell. "A lot of times, it's been later in games, when we're going up against a power reliever that's making quality pitches. We're well aware of their success when we've had runners in scoring position. I can't say that the aggressiveness on the basepaths is to counteract that. But they've done a good job when we've had runners in scoring position.''
- The Sox chose LHP Robby Scott over other infield options to replace Dustin Pedroia on the roster. "We wanted to get a second lefthander, particularly with this lineup, in this ballpark,'' explained Farrell. "If there's a matchup where we could turn a switch-hitter around to the bigger side of the ballpark. That was the choice.''
- So, about that struggle with RISP vs. the Yankees: in one inning, the Red Sox today have nearly as many hits with runners in scoring position as they did in the previous 10 games between the two teams combined. First, came a bases-loaded two-run single to left by Mookie Betts. Then, with runners on first and second, Andrew Benintendi hit a missile into the right field bleachers. Two big hits in consecutive at-bats with runners in scoring position, good for five runs.
- Benintendi has a nice Fenway swing, with the ability to go the other way and fully utilize The Wall. But this series makes you wonder what kind of damage he could do playing at Yankee Stadium full-time. Benintendi has three homers here in the last 10 innings -- all of them, hit out to the inviting short porch in right. He's got six RBI today with his two three-run homers.
- This start will mark the 10th time in the last starts that Pomeranz will allow three earned runs or fewer. Obviously, he's been nowhere near as dominant as Chris Sale, but he has been remarkably consistent. He hasn't been tagged with a loss since June 11. Moreover, in that 11 start span, the Sox have lost only three times and in two of those, he allowed just one earned run and in the other, he allowed only two.