All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Yankees, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Multiple comebacks lead to win: The Red Sox scored five runs -- all from the seventh inning on -- to tie, then ultimately beat the Yankees at Fenway. Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth, the Red Sox got a clutch two-run, two-out double from Kike Hernandez to tie the game and force extra-innings. Then, after the Yankees went ahead yet again -- without the benefit of a hit, but with the help of the automatic runner -- the Sox were the recipient of four wild pitches from New York reliever Brooks Kriske, allowing them to tie the game again and put the potential winning run at third. From there, Hunter Renfroe hit a fly ball to right, deep enough to score Xander Bogaerts easily with the deciding run. It was the fourth walk-off victory of the season for the Red Sox and enabled them to hold onto first place by themselves, holding off the Rays — who could have pulled into a tie for first had the Sox lost.
Houck shines briefly: Tanner Houck made his first start for the parent club since Patriots Day and it was a very good one. Trouble was, it was interrupted by rain. Houck limited the Yanks to an unearned run on two hits in 4.2 innings before the rain. After a delay of 55 minutes, the Sox elected not to have Houck return. Still, they had to like what they saw while he was on the mound. In possession of a wipeout slider, Houck fanned eight in his shortened start while issuing two walks. Houck will next serve the Sox out of the bullpen in a multi-inning relief role before grabbing another spot start the next time through the rotation. If nothing else came of Thursday's wild win, the Sox learned that Houck can be counted on to not only provide extra rest for the rest of the rotation but give the Sox a good chance to win his starts, too.
Mayer arrives, signs: Top draft pick Marcelo Mayer was at Fenway Thursday and got a chance to take batting practice at the ballpark for the first time. He met a number of current players, took pictures, spoke with reporters, and not incidentally, signed a contract, giving him $6.448 million -- exactly slot value for the fourth overall pick in the July 11 draft. "It's been amazing,'' said Mayer of the experience. "It's been everything I could ask for. From sitting there on draft day to being here, it's super special. I think it's hit me a little harder since getting off the plane in Boston.'' Mayer will travel to Fort Myers Friday, where he will he get acclimated to the organization, learn more about conditioning and nutrition and, in time, play games for the Sox' affiliate in the Florida Complex League. "I want to start my professional career, work my butt off and do whatever I can do be (back in Boston).''
TURNING POINT
For the first time in baseball history, a pitcher threw four wild pitches in the same inning -- and the Red Sox were the big beneficiaries. In the bottom of the 10th, with the Sox trailing by a run, New York reliever Brooks Kriske first wild-pitched Rafael Devers to third, then wild-pitched him home. Then, after walking Bogaerts, he threw two more, sending him to third, from where he scored on the game-winning sac fly from Renfroe.
TWO UP
Alex Verdugo: Verdugo has been off at the plate for a while now, but he broke out with a big night, collecting three hits in four at-bats while scoring two of the team's five runs.
Kike Hernandez: Of late, Hernandez seems to find ways to help the Sox win nearly every time he's in the lineup. He delivered a sacrifice fly in the seventh to produce the first Boston run of the night before cracking a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth, arguably one of the biggest Red Sox' hits of the season.
TWO DOWN
Adam Ottavino: It was a rare off-night for the veteran reliever who came into a tie game in the top of the eighth and promptly walked the first two hitters he faced, leading directly to two Yankee runs.
Christian Vazquez: The catcher was hitless in four trips to the plate, twice making the final out of the inning and was also charged with a passed ball.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"I feel like that's the first time that I've done something offensively for the crowd to get that pumped up. It's definitely the loudest I've heard Fenway this year.'' - Kike Hernandez.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The win was the third straight for the Red Sox, who improved to 4-2 since the All-Star break.
* The Sox improved to 8-2 against New York this year.
* Kike Hernandez has 14 RBI in 16 games this month.
* Tanner Houck's 44 strikeouts are tied for the third-most in franchise history for a pitcher in his first eight career games.
* Hunter Renfroe's sac fly was the fourth time he produced the game-winner in a walk-off win in his career.
UP NEXT: The Red Sox and Yankees will play the second game of the series Friday night at 7:10 with LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (7-5, 5.19) vs. RHP Gerrit Cole (10-4, 2.63)