All you need to know, in quickie fashion, about the Red Sox' 5-2 loss to the Yankees, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Godley can't carry over: Zack Godley earned the start with four strong innings of work against the Mets earlier this week, but Saturday, he wasn't nearly as effective. He hung a curveball to Aaron Judge in the first who drilled a pitch deep into the empty bleachers. In the second, Gio Urshela jumped on a first-pitch changeup for a grand slam and that was that. "These guys came into this game prepared to hit off-speed and we didn't make that adjustment early enough to go to the fastball and they took advantage,'' said Godley. "For me, execution tonight was where I wanted it to be. I threw pretty much all of my pitches right where I wanted them to go. It's just pitch selection was what came back to get me. These guys were sitting soft and that's what I threw them.'' Godley couldn't get out of the fourth inning and the Red Sox have now had just one game -- the first of the season -- in which the starter pitched six innings.
Offense flops again: What little spark the Red Sox showed came in the third when Xander Bogaerts came within a few inches of hitting a three-run homer to right-center. Instead, the ball struck near the top of the fence, scoring Andrew Benintendi from first while sending Kevin Pillar to third. Pillar then advanced when the Yankees infield botched a throw from the outfield. After that, the Sox collected just two more hits -- both singles -- over the final six innings. "We just need to guys clicking right,'' said Roenicke, "because I know they can hit. As a group, it is a very good lineup.'' Roenicke said he might "tinker'' with the lineup some, but didn't envision a radical overhaul. "I think they're lined up OK. I don't think that's the issue. I just think we need to get a couple of guys hot.''
Brice gets the call: With few other options for conventional starter, the Red Sox will again go with an opener on Sunday and Austin Brice was tabbed to fill that role. He'll pitch an inning or two before giving way to a bulk pitcher, whom Roenicke didn't identify. Brice, who was obtained from Miami in a minor trade in January, had a strong spring training and continued to impress the Red Sox in summer camp. But since the season began, Brice hasn't been nearly as impressive, appearing in three relief outings and allowing at least one run in all three, leaving him with a 7.71 ERA.
TURNING POINT
The grand slam by Urshela, though it came in the second inning, seemed to take care of this one. The way the Red Sox lineup has been going, overcoming a five-run deficit -- even with seven innings still remaining -- seemed out of the question.
GIO URSHELA: THE MOST HAPPY FELLA pic.twitter.com/zvTxDo9xzI
— Bronx Bomber Ball (@BronxBomberBall) August 1, 2020
- Dating back to last season, the Yankees have won 10 of the last 11 matchups between the teams.
- Andrew Benintendi was 0-for-3 and is now just 2-for-24 (.083) for the season though he did walk twice
- Jackie Bradley Jr. is hitless on the road trip and is without a hit in his last 14 at-bats.