BSJ Game Report: Red Sox 5, Yankees 4 (11) - Red Sox bend, but don’t break in dramatic win at Yankee Stadium

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

Red Sox somehow manage to stop the bleeding

Given Boston’s extended string of misfortune over these past few weeks, Red Sox fans likely weren’t all that shocked when Tanner Houck airmailed a throw over third base in the ninth inning — allowing Gleyber Torres to race in from second and tie things up at Yankee Stadium.

At this point in Boston’s freefall, yet another late-inning implosion — especially one facilitated by a lack of execution and shoddy fielding — would be met with pained resignation, rather than outright anger.

But after getting embarrassed down in St. Petersburg by way of a four-game sweep at the hands of the Rays, Boston managed to finally turn the tide in The Bronx on Friday. 

The Red Sox bent, but did not break against the Yankees in crunch time — with Houck navigating out of two bases-loaded jams in the ninth and 10th innings and Xander Bogaerts scoring the winning run in the 11th in what was a dramatic 5-4 victory for Boston.

The Sox’ late-game fortitude was a welcome sign for a ballclub that was staring at its fifth straight loss after Houck’s misfire resulted in a blown save and put Yankee runners on second and third with no outs in the ninth. 

But after intentionally walking Aaron Hicks, Houck got out of the ninth by forcing a double play and a weak grounder to end the threat.

 The 10th inning followed a similar script for New York with the bases juiced, but Houck once again escaped the unenviable spot unscathed — getting Torres to ground into another double play to drag the game into the 11th.

Boston’s runs during innings 1-9 might have all come via home runs (Rafael Devers, Christian Vazquez and Bobby Dalbec), but the Sox’ eventual game-winning run came off of some heads-up baserunning from Bogaerts — who raced home from third after a wild pitch from Michael King caused confusion near home plate.

With Bogaerts giving the visitors the lead once again, Ryan Braiser closed out the contest with a tidy 1-2-3 11th inning to put Boston back in the win column.

Sox bullpen steps up 

Nathan Eovaldi’s first start in over a month snagged most of the headlines leading into this Friday-night showdown, but it was Boston’s bullpen that saved the day in this one. 

Eovaldi (4 1/3 innings, three runs, six hits, four strikeouts) was solid in his return to the hill, but he was buoyed by some strong outings by Boston’s relief corps — with John Schreiber shaking off a poor showing Thursday night against Tampa and recording five outs to bridge the gap into the later innings.

Eovaldi was not the only Sox pitcher to return from the IL on Friday, as Garrett Whitlock made his first appearance since June 7 and was dynamite in the seventh and eighth innings — setting down all six Yankee batters in order while striking out three.

Houck had … an eventful evening, but still managed to wiggle his way out of danger twice in critical moments of Friday’s win, while Braiser recorded his first save since way back in 2019. 

THREE UP

Xander Bogaerts: Perhaps Rafael Devers deserves some props here for his two-run shot in the first inning, but we’ll go with Bogaerts for his heads-up play in the 11th. Of course, Boston probably wishes that Bogaerts landed a knockout punch in the 10th when he struck out with the bases load, but the Sox shortstop redeemed himself with his aggressive baserunning to score off a wild pitch in the subsequent frame. 

Bobby Dalbec: It was the tale of two games for Dalbec — who struck out with runners on the corners in the first inning, but then gave Boston the lead in the seventh with a monster shot off of Aroldis Chapman. Six of Dalbec’s seven home runs this season have given the Red Sox a lead.

Red Sox bullpen: A gutsy performance from Boston’s bullpen all around — be it Whitlock’s dominant two-inning outing or Houck’s tightrope-walking act in the ninth and 10th frames.

TWO DOWN

Jeter Downs: Rough night at the plate for the rookie in the No. 9 spot, with Downs striking out three times in four at-bats.

Alex Verdugo: Verdugo has been a thorn in the side of the Yankees countless times, but the Sox outfielder didn’t make much of an impact at the plate in this one, going 0-for-5 and stranding four runners on the basepaths. 

QUOTE OF NOTE

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING 

The Red Sox have won the last five games that Nathan Eovaldi has started. 

Six of Boston’s eight matchups against the Yankees this season have been decided by one or two runs — including three extra-inning games. 

UP NEXT 

The Red Sox will continue their three-game set in The Bronx on Saturday — with RHP Nick Pivetta (8-6, 4.08 ERA) set to battle against LHP Jameson Taillon (9-2, 4.01 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m.