All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Yankees, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Sox finish homestand on a high note: The Red Sox' six-game homestand didn't begin well, as they dropped two to Atlanta. But to their credit, the Sox rallied and won three of the final four, including two of three from the Yankees. The win Sunday night gave the Sox an actual, honest-to-goodness series win against an AL East opponent -- as opposed to their win over Baltimore Thursday that was technically classified as a series win. The Sox got strong starting pitching over the final four games, and while the offensive output was modest -- the Sox scored just 10 runs combined in their three wins -- they played clean baseball and got big outs when they needed from their staff.
Devers provides the big blow: Third baseman Rafael Devers had been frustrated by his inability to square up some pitches of late, complaining to Alex Cora as recently as Saturday that he was just missing on some offerings of late. Devers then went out and took early hitting on Sunday afternoon, and whatever he tried worked. He had a sharp single to center in his first trip, then, in the sixth, with Tommy Pham on first, clubbed a homer deep into the right field bleachers off New York starter Jameson Taillon to stretch what had been a 1-0 lead into a far more comfortable 3-0 cushion. Devers was coy about what he had been working on, but said one adjustment was moving a bit closer to the plate.
Wacha shines in return: Michael Wacha missed the previous six weeks with a case of shoulder inflammation. Until Sunday night, his last start for Boston came back on June 28 in Toronto. But watching him carve up the Yankees from the first inning, you never would have known that he had missed that much time. Working at a quick tempo, Wacha set the Yankees down in order on just nine pitches in the first inning, and moved from there. He didn't allow a base hit until Miguel Andujar singled with one out in the fourth. In all, Wacha provided seven strong innings with just three baserunners allowed -- two singles and a walk -- in that span, while racking up nine strikeouts. He finished with 89 pitches, at which point Alex Cora determined he had done enough and turned to his bullpen for the final six outs. If Wacha can build off this outing, the rotation will greatly benefit.
TURNING POINT
The Yankees managed only three baserunners all night, but two of them came back-to-back with two outs in the fifth inning after Miguel Andujar singled and Isiah Kiner-Falefa giving them runners at first and second with two out. Catcher Kyle Hagashioka then ripped a ball just inside the third base line that Rafael Devers made a terrific backhand stab of before setting himself and making a strong throw to first for the third out. The Yankees got just one more baserunner over the final four innings.
TWO UP
Tommy Pham: Pham continued to be a presence at the top of the order, with a three-hit performance and two runs scored.
Garrett Whitlock: He nailed down the save with a 1-2-3 ninth, turning back the top three at the top of the Yankees order including a nine-pitch strikeout of Aaron Judge.
TWO DOWN
Eric Hosmer: Hosmer had an off night at the plate, going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.
Xander Bogaerts: While Rafael Devers broke out with a single and two-run homer and J.D. Martinez had a hit, Bogaerts continued to struggle with an 0-for-3 night that included a double play and two other groundouts.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"Most definitely we have a chance. Everyone in this clubhouse believes we're still in this thing and we really are. A lot can happen in these last 50 games and that's the mentality that we've got. -- Michael Wacha.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The two-hitter was the third of the season for the Red Sox pitching staff.
* Red Sox relievers have allowed just one run over the last 12.1 innings, covering three games.
* Rafael Devers collected his 320th career extra-base hit, tying Mookie Betts for the most in Red Sox history for a player before turning 25
* The Sox are 4-1 in their last five home games vs. the Yankees.
* The 2:15 gametime for a game between the Red Sox and Yankees was the shortest between the teams since 2018.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox are off Monday before beginning a six-game road trip Tuesday night in Pittsburgh when they'll send RHP Nick Pivetta (8-9, 4.51) vs. RHP Mitch Keller (4-8, 4.25) at 7: 05 p.m.