NEW YORK -- Eduardo Nunez, in rationalizing his choice to bunt, insisted Thursday night that the Red Sox weren’t a home run-hitting team. But Friday night, they sure played the part.
The Sox belted three homers, accounting for all of their runs in a 4-1 victory over the New York Yankees, re-establishing their 5.5 game lead in the A.L. East standings.
Nunez himself blasted a two-run shot in the second before Andrew Benintendi (No. 19) and Hanley Ramirez (No. 22) added solo shots in the fifth and seventh innings respectively.
For Nunez it was his eighth homer in 31 games since joining the Red Sox. For Ramirez, it was his third in the last four games.
That display of power was more than enough to back Doug Fister, who limited the Yanks to a single run on four hits over seven innings. In each of his last three starts, Fister has given up runs in the first, then shut down the opposition the rest of the way.
Opposing hitters are batting 6-for-15 with five extra-base hits in the first inning of his last three starts, but just .065 (4-for-62) in all the other innings combined.
GAME NO.: 135
WHO: Red Sox (76-58) vs New York Yankees (71-62)
WHEN: 7:07 p.m.
WHERE: Yankee Stadium
TV: NESN/MLB Network
RADIO: WEEI (93.7 FM)
PITCHERS: Doug Fister (3-7 4-4, 4.19) vs. Sonny Gray (8-8, 3.26)
BOX SCORE: MLB Gameday
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
- Once more, as soon as Doug Fister gets through the first inning, he's in good shape. In each of the last three starts, Fister has given up runs in the first -- and then nothing after that. It's an admittedly small sample size and maybe not significant in the big picture. But it speaks to Fister's ability to make some adjustments mid-game.
- In rationalizing Dustin Pedroia's return from the DL without a rehab stint, the Red Sox like to point out that he can impact games even without having his timing at the plate. Tonight was an example of that. Pedroia ranged to his left and made a diving stop on a grounder hit by Jacoby Ellsbury and made the play at first.
- Now that Xander Bogaerts is getting a few days to work on things and clear his head, could Mookie Betts be next? Betts has been stone cold of late, with his average down to .260. And he hasn't hit a homer in almost a month. With Jackie Bradley Jr. returning Saturday, some time off for Betts might be in order.
- The controversy surrounding Eduardo Nunez bunting on CC Sabathia carried over to a second day, with plenty weighin in. Yankee manger Joe Girardi attributed Sabathia's frustration to the lefty being an old-school competitor, and said Sabathia was following in the tradition of Bob Gibson and Nolan Ryan with his competitive comments. Nunez seemed tired of the controversy and suggested that if Sabathia's knee wasn't healthy enough to properly field his position, the pitcher should return to the DL. "It's a joke,'' Nunez said of the entire controversy.'' Meanwhile, John Farrell was far from apologetic, and defended Nunez. "If he feels like that's an opportunity to take advantage of a certain game situation, that's what we do. That's what every team does.'' Pausing for a few seconds and seemingly getting angrier, Farrell added: "You know what? We're going to do it again.''
- Dustin Pedroia returned to the lineup for the first time since Aug. 8, and was hitting fifth. Farrell pointed out that the Sox would go through a "progression'' to build Pedroia back up when it comes to playing in the field and hinted that Pedroia may not be left in to play entire games right away.
- David Price threw a 29-pitch bullpen Friday afternoon, incorporating both changeups and fastballs. "I'll be honest with you -- it was impressive,'' Farrell said. "It was powerful. He came out of it feeling really good and really encouraged by it.'' Price's next bullpen will come either Sunday or Monday, with the opportunity to mix in breaking pitches in the plans.
- Brock Holt, who was hit on the instep by a pitch in the ninth inning Thursday and underwent an x-ray after that game, was back in the lineup, playing left field. "He's sore, but he's good enough to go,'' said John Farrell.
- Matt Barnes (lower back) was also activated, though Farrell indicated the Sox will "ease him back in,'' before entrusting him in any high-leverage situations.