BSJ Game Report: Red Sox 11, Yankees 6 - Behind Martinez & Story, Boston scores final 9 to gain split

All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Yankees, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Well, now we know the Red Sox are capable of at least splitting a series in the division — which they did for the first time this season in nine chances after taking the final two games against the Yankees at a very happy Fenway Park. Can they take the next step and get back to playing winning baseball?

Well, we're about to find out as they travel to Tampa for four games, and get a rematch with the Yankees in the Bronx before the all-star break.

One night after coming back to beat New York in extra innings, the Red Sox spotted the Yankees leads of 4-0 and 6-2 before storming back with three home runs (Franchy Cordero, Christian Vazquez, J.D. Martinez) and the final nine runs of the game to get on the plane via a high note.

“I don’t think anyone would have bet that we would have split it after the first two. You’re definitely lying if you say that,” said Xander Bogaerts told reporters. “Especially how the first two games went. It’s nice to give the fans something to come back to the ballpark and look forward to.”

The Yankees definitely aided the Sox in this one. With the game tied thanks to Martinez's right-field bomb in the fifth inning, DJ LeMahieu looked like a circus act in the sixth with two bloopers going off his glove, including Jeter Downs' generously ruled sacrifice fly that plated Trevor Story after Aroldis Chapman loaded the bases. 

The Sox got some breathing room in the seventh with Story's three-run double, and a Cordero sacrifice bunt that was thrown around by New York.

“I've been saying all along we have a good team but it has to keep working to get better,” said Alex Cora. “We play in a tough division. We’ve been getting beat in the division. We know that. But we feel like we can play with anybody.”

Martinez goes deep ... finally: Martinez's timely dinger was his first home run since June 14 against Oakland. His ninth of the season ended a stretch of 25 games and 103 plate appearances without one. Only Jackie Bradley had a longer power drought — never good company for a middle-of-the-lineup hitter. 

“At the beginning, I didn’t care. It’s one of those things,” he said. “I know what it is. It’s not a lack of power or anything like that. I was still hitting the ball hard. There was just something in my swing that was causing me not to get the ball in the air as often as I’d like.”

Downs makes an impact: One night after getting his first Major League hit, the rookie callup not only had the go-ahead RBI, but he also made a sterling defensive play from third base to retire the lead-off hitter in the ninth. 

TURNING POINT 

Nick Pivetta was scuffling for the second straight start after allowing two runs each in the first three innings. It was about to get a lot worse and away from the Sox when LeMahieu singled to give the Yankees runners on first and second with one out. That's when Cora went to reliever Kaleb Ort with Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo coming up. Ort got both to fly out without any further damage. Ort pitched a scoreless fifth as well, with a 3-6-1 double play to end the inning.

"Yeah, Caleb was amazing," Cora said. "Nick didn't have it today. And he came in and restored order, you know, against a big part of the lineup, gave us enough and (Hirokazu Sawamura) was amazing. He's been throwing the ball well for a while here, 97 with a 92 mph split. And, you know, took us to the next level."

THREE UP

Bullpen: After a shaky Pivetta exited, four relievers (Ort, Sawamura, Matt Strahm and Ryan Brasier) combined for 5.2 scoreless innings with just three hits allowed.

Christian Vazquez: Hit hit a solo home run in the third inning and had an RBI double in the fifth to cut the deficit to 6-4. He batted .333 with two doubles and four RBI in this series.

Franchy Cordero: Hit a two-run homer in the 2nd inning to cut the deficit to 4-2 and laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt in the 7th inning that led to a run and an 11-6 lead.

THREE DOWN

Nick Pivetta: Allowed six runs and walked two in 3.1 IP. He's allowed 6+ runs in each of his last two starts (13 R, 9.0 IP), after allowing two runs or fewer in each of his previous four starts (6 R, 28.0 IP).

Bobby Dalbec: Was 0 for 4 with five left on base, including a bases-loaded K when he chased two pitches out of the zone. He's now batting .208 on the season.

Jarren Durran: Looked a bit overmatched in the leadoff spot by going 0 for 3 and being replaced in the lineup by Downs.

QUOTE OF NOTE

“At the end of the day, they’re going to look at who has the most wins, not the one who has the most wins against the division. So that’s the only way you get to the playoffs now.” — Bogaerts.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• After trailing 6-2 after the top of the 3rd inning, earned their 17th come-from-behind win, including 4 of their last 5 wins.
• Recorded 10+ hits for the 3rd straight game (34 total hits)...Scored 10+ runs for the 7th time this season.
• Story leads the Red Sox with 58 RBI. He was 8-for-30 during the homestand with 6 runs scored, 2 doubles, 3 HR, and 6 RBI.
• Hirokazu Sawamura retired all six batters he faced over the 6th and 7th innings. Of his nine career outings vs. NYY, eight have been scoreless (2 ER/9.2 IP).
• The Yankees allowed a season-high 11 runs, and it was only the second time this season they allowed 10 or more (June 16 at Toronto).

UP NEXT

Rookie RHP Brayan Bello (0-1) makes his second career start at 7:10 p.m. Monday when he faces the Rays (TBA) in Tampa.