All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Yankees, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES:
Sox get their revenge: On Saturday, the Red Sox suffered one of their toughest defeats of the season when the Yankees blooped their way to a four-run eighth inning after being shut out for the first seven innings. The win gave the Yankees some life and put them in position to get a split of the four-game series and remain somewhat within striking distance in the American League East standings. But the Sox turned the tables on the Yankees by pulling off the same kind of late-inning comeback Sunday. No-hit through the first seven innings by a dominant Domingo German, the Sox strung five straight hits and added a run-scoring groundout and sacrifice fly to overtake the Yankees with a five-run eighth. If the loss stung the Sox Saturday, Sunday's setback for the Yankees was even tougher to handle, since the Yankees are the ones trying to play catch-up in the division. And to make matters better for the Sox, they got help from Cleveland, which beat Tampa Bay and allowed the Sox to secure first place by themselves again.
Sox stifled through seven: German not only no-hit the Sox through the first seven innings, but he very nearly had himself a perfect game. He allowed just one baserunner -- walking Hunter Renfroe to start the third inning -- and the closest the Sox came to a hit came in the fifth when J.D. Martinez hit a groundball into the hole, from where Gleyber Torres made a jump throw as his momentum carried him away from first and got the runner easily. The Sox played right into German's hands in the first seven innings, consistently expanding the strike zone by chasing breaking pitches and other off-speed offerings. But Alex Verdugo's double chased him at 93 pitches, and once into the New York bullpen, the comeback effort gathered steam.
Hernandez leads the comeback: Credit Verdugo with getting the inning started and breaking up the no-hitter in the fateful eighth. But the biggest hit of the inning probably came off the bat of Kike Hernandez, who had been an extra-base hit machine of late. With two runs in and two runners on, Hernandez pulled a double to left, scoring a run to bring the Sox to within a run, sent Francy Cordero to third representing the tying run and put himself in scoring position to provide the go-ahead run. Hernandez is hitting just .244 for the season, but of late, seems to be in the middle of every big inning for the Sox. Of his last 10 hits, eight have gone for extra-bases. Over his last seven games, Hernandez is slugging .833 and over his last 30, he's slugging a robust .645.
TURNING POINT
For reasons no one could quite comprehend, Franchy Cordero came to the plate in the bottom of the eighth with the Sox having scored twice, and with a runner on second and no out, tried to bunt the Christian Vazquez to second. This was obviously on his own, since the Sox weren't in position, trailing by two runs in the eighth, to be giving away any outs. Fortunately for Cordero -- and the Sox -- the bunt try went foul. Motivated now to swing away, Cordero then stroked a single up the middle, advancing Vazquez without making an out. Cordero then came around to score the tying run two batters later.
TWO UP
Martin Perez: Perez made a bad pitch to Rougned Odor that resulted in a solo homer, but otherwise pitched well over six innings and kept the game within reach.
Alex Verudgo: He got the eighth inning rally kickstarted with a long double off the bullpen wall, which, at the same time, snapped German's no-hit bid.
ONE DOWN
Jarren Duran: The rookie had a long day at the plate, striking out in each of his three plate appearances before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"I was just thinking about our Family Day today (held annually with wives and children enjoying a post-game party on the field) after the game. It was going to suck to be honest with you if we had been shutout and they throw a no-hitter. That's what I was thinking of. I was like, 'Man, this is going to be a weird one.' Now, it's going to be a fun one.'' Alex Cora.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The comeback win was the 32nd of the season for the Red Sox and saw them overcome a four-run deficit for the third time this year.
* Josh Taylor has not allowed a run in 34 of his 40 outings this season.
* Kike Hernandez has nine RBI in his last six games and leads the A.L. in extra-base hits (14) this month.
* The Sox improved to 12-3 in their last 15 home games.
UP NEXT: The Sox host the Toronto Blue Jays Monday in the first of four at 7:10 with RHP Nick Pivetta (8-4, 4.37) vs. TBA.