All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Yankees, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Yankees take it late: For the second straight night in the series, the Yankees won the game in their final at-bat. On Thursday, that required a walk-off win with a game-winning single from Josh Donaldson in the bottom of the 10th. On Friday, Jose Trevino slapped a single to left, scoring Harrison Bader to snap what had been a 4-4 tie. The Red Sox helped the Yankees out, since Bader first drew a one-out walk, then moved to third on an errant pickoff throw from reliever Matt Strahm. Of the 17 games played between the team this year, 10 have been decided by one run -- including the first two games of this final series meeting of the season. Far more often than not, however, those close wins have gone to the Yankees, who seem capable of coming up with the big hit the Sox can't seem to find. Of course, the fact that the Sox made three errors in the game was a contributing factor, too.
Verdugo delivers blow: From his interactions with the fans to a few big moments, you can tell that Alex Verdugo enjoys playing games in New York. In the sixth inning, with the Sox trailing 4-1, Verdugo had a long, drawn-out at-bat against Gerrit Cole before clubbing a fastball over the heart of the plate to right-center for a huge three-run homer, his second at Yankee Stadium, giving him six RBI there. (He also produced a walk-off win vs. the Yanks at Fenway this summer). As Verdugo rounded the bases, he playfully flexed his muscles in response to boos, and pointed to some fans behind the Red Sox dugout. The blast was enough to tie the game at 4-4 for the Sox, but that lasted only two more innings before the Yankees took the lead back -- this time for good.
Sox contain Judge: The Red Sox managed to stall Aaron Judge's bid for history again. Judge, seeking to tie Roger Maris for the most homers in a season by a Yankee (and an American League hitter), was 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. He fanned in the first inning against Rich Hill, then flied to left off Hill in the third before fanning a second time in the fifth. He finally reach base in seventh with a sharp line single to left field off Kaleb Ort, but that wasn't what the crowd was hoping for. Judge now has two more home games on this homestand before the Yankees travel for a series in Toronto.
TURNING POINT
The Red Sox had little offensive momentum the entire night, with three of their four runs coming on one swing of the bat by Verdugo. Trailing by a run in the ninth, they managed consecutive singles with one out, giving them the potential tying run in scoring position. But before they could get anything started, pinch-hitter Abraham Almonte took a called third strike -- a poor call by home plate umpire Brian Knight -- and Yu Chang grounded out to the right side, ending the threat and the game.
TWO UP:
Kiké Hernandez: Restored, for a night anyway, back in the leadoff spot, Hernandez had a single and a double in four trips to the plate.
Triston Casas: You can see Casas start to feel a bit more comfortable at the plate. He worked two walks and sliced a single to right in his final trip.
TWO DOWN:
Yu Chang: Filling in for Xander Bogaerts at short for the night, Chang was 0-for-3 from the final spot in the order, and also didn't take charge on a pop-up to shallow left and was charged with an error when the ball fell in
Rafael Devers: Devers was a no-show at the plate, fanning in each of his first two plate appearances. He later walked and scored, but in the final at-bat, grounded out.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"Wasn't even close. He can complain all he wants, but the goal of this game is to throw it over the white plate. He wants to steal every pitch.'' Alex Verdugo on Gerrit Cole, who was livid that he didn't get a strike call the pitch before allowing a three-run homer to Verdugo.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The Red Sox fell to 6-11 in 17 meetings with the Yankees this season.
* The loss also dropped the Red Sox to 35-41 on the road this year and guaranteed that they would finish with a losing record away from home.
* Alex Verdugo's first-inning double extended his hitting streak to four games.
* Kaleb Ort has not allowed an earned run in his last nine appearances.
* Tommy Pham has at least one extra-base hit in four of his last five games.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Yankees play the third game of their series at 1:05 p.m., with RHP Nick Pivetta (9-11, 4.35) vs. RHP Domingo German (2-3, 3.12)