The Red Sox' losing streak reached five games, their longest since the middle of 2015, as Gleyber Torres belted a grand slam in the first inning and the New York Yankees made that stand up in a 4-2 win over the Sox.
Eduardo Rodriguez loaded the bases with two walks and Torres walloped the first pitch he saw to the seats in left.
Rodriguez pitched into the seventh and didn't allow another run after the first.
J.D. Martinez gave the Sox a quick 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the first, but managed just two more hits the rest of the way.
WHO: Red Sox (59-51) vs. New York Yankees (68-39)
WHEN: 7:05 p.m.
WHERE: Yankee Stadium
SEASON SERIES TO DATE: NY 7-4
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (13-4, 4.13) vs. LHP James Paxton (5-6, 4.72)
TV/RADIO: MLB Network, NESN/WEEI 93.7 FM
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
9:25 That's it for Rodriguez, who goes 6.2 innings, and other than some walks (six) and a mistake to Torres in the first, pitched pretty well, especially after the first couple of innings.
9:06 One of the best plays this season for Rafael Devers, who makes a stab on the backhand behind the bag, then zips a strong throw to first to just get Gio Urshela at first
8:36 Christian Vazquez throws out Cameron Maybin trying to steal second. He's nabbed 15-of-38 baserunners this year, an American League-best 39 percent.
8:31 Rodriguez struggling with his control tonight. He's walked five, including one in every inning. Dangerous lineup to put extra runners on base.
8:21 In addition to having better at-bats overall, Andrew Benintendi is looking much better against lefties specifically. Single off Paxton gives the Sox two on and one out.
7:50 Red Sox had some difficulty during the series with Tampa turning double plays, but Rodriguez has gotten two in the first two innings.
7:32 Rodriguez got himself in trouble with two walks, and with no place to put Gleyber Torres, challenges him with a first-pitch fastball. Bad idea as Torres lines the pitch into the left field seats for a grand slam.
7:28 Eduardo Rodriguez walks Edwin Encarnacion to load the bases. Looks like Rodriguez got squeezed on a couple of pitches at the bottom of the strike zone.
7:17 J.D. Martinez gets a cutter down-and-in -- his hit zone -- and hooks it on a line down the left field line, giving the Red Sox a quick 2-0. That's the 12th homer that James Paxton has given up in the first inning this season.
LINEUPS:
RED SOX
Betts RF
Devers 3B
Bogaerts SS
Martinez DH
Benintendi LF
Travis 1B
Chavis 2B
Vazquez C
Bradley CF
YANKEES
LeMahieu 2B
Judge RF
Encarnacion 1B
Hicks DH
Torres SS
Urshela 3B
Maybin LF
Romine C
Gardner CF
WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox have lost four straight, tying their longest losing streak of the season, reached twice earlier this season...They haven't lost five in a row since July of 2015....Since then, every other MLB club has had at least one losing streak of five games or more...The Sox, meanwhile, have gone 662 games without losing five in a row, a franchise record...The Red Sox took three of four from the Yankees at Fenway last weekend...Since the start of 2016 and including the postseason, the Yankees and Red Sox have split their game with the Yankees 36-36...The Sox averaged 11 runs per game in the most recent four-game series...The Sox had 23 doubles and 36 extra-base hits in that series were both the most for the Sox in a four-game series against any team...The 44 runs the Red Sox scored in that series were the most scored by either the Sox or Yanks in a series against one another...Since April 19, the Red Sox are 29-12 on the road, including 17-5 in their last 22 road games since June 2...The Sox have finished at .500 or better in their last seven runs road trips, including six straight winning trips...Xander Bogaerts has eight homers and 19 RBI in his last 20 games...After homering twice Thursday night, Bogaerts is one shy of 100 homers for his career...Over his last 10 games, Andrew Benintendi is 21-for-44 (.477) with 10 runs, 12 RBI and 11 extra-base hits...Mookie Betts has scored 35 runs in his last 26 games...Jackie Bradley Jr. is hitless over his last nine at-bats...Rafael Devers saw his 11-game hitting streak snapped Thursday night...Sam Travis has a five-game hitting streak (9-for-18), a career high...J.D. Martinez has homered in three of his last six games....The 13 wins for Eduardo Rodriguez ties him for second in the American League...He's won his last decisions...Over his last nine games, Rodriguez has a 3.02 ERA....Rodriguez leads baseball in run support with an average of 8.39 runs per game....Gleyber Torres is 3-for-10 lifetime against Rodriguez while Aaron Judge 1-for-15 with six strikeouts...Bradley is 5-for-12 (.417) in his career against James Paxton while Martinez is 6-for-13 (.462) with a homer.
PRE-GAME NOTES:
- The Red Sox placed RHP Heath Hembree on the IL with right lateral elbow inflammation. To take Hembree's spot, RHP Josh Smith was recalled from Pawtucket. Hembree underwent an MRI which revealed no structural damage to his elbow and expected to pitch again this seasno.
- The Sox also placed LHP David Price on the paternity list and recalled INF Marco Hernandez from Pawtucket.