All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Yankees, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Sox can't deliver: It's not just Saturday. It's been like this all season -- the Red Sox' inability to produce hits with runners on base, and more specifically, with runners in scoring position. But this week, the performance has been particularly heinous. In losing 7-5, the Sox had their chances, but were just 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position. Right up to the final out of the game, it was a factor as the Red Sox loaded the bases in the ninth off New York reliever Scott Effross. But Bobby Dalbec hit into an inning-ending, game-ending forceout for the last out of the game. Since the Red Sox left Boston last weekend, the issue has been getting worse. In their last five games -- four of them losses -- the Red Sox are a combined 6-for-46 with runners in scoring position. In fact, Saturday's loss marked the first time this week that the Red Sox collected more than one hit in the same game with RISP.
Pivetta struggles once more vs AL East: This, too, has been a season-long pattern. Nick Pivetta has pitched pretty well against teams from the AL Central and AL West, and National League. But against teams from within his team's own division, Nick Pivetta has been less competitive. He allowed solo runs in both the first and second, another in the fourth and two in the fifth, resulting in five runs in five innings pitched. In 14 starts against teams from the East this season, Pivetta has earned a win just once -- beating Baltimore on May 29. He's never beaten the Yankees in eight career outings and owns an ERA of 8.81 against them. He allowed two homers in his five innings, and also issued four walks. The Yankees are good enough without providing them with additional baserunners and scoring opportunities.
Judge comes up empty again: The amazing thing is that, the Red Sox have lost all three games of the series to date and Aaron Judge not only hasn't hit his sought-after record-tying 61st homer, but he also hasn't driven in a single run, either. The Red Sox, true to their word at the start of the set, have been going after him and giving him pitches to hit. But whether he's trying too hard, tired or just feeling the pressure of the home run chase, Judge hasn't been able to connect. In four plate appearances Saturday, he was 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts. Yankee fans were hopeful that catcher Jose Trevino could reach base in the bottom of the eighth, with Judge waiting on deck for a possible fifth plate appearance of the afternoon. But Trevino grounded out, and Judge walked back to the dugout.
TURNING POINT
Among the many scoring chances the Red Sox had -- and fumbled -- came in the eighth inning. Trailing by two, the Red Sox had baserunners at first and second and one out when Abraham Almonte hit a liner to shallow center that seemed certain to fall and would have scored one run while giving the Sox two on for the top of the order. But Yankee center fielder Harrison Bader, one of the better outfield defenders in the game, came racing in and laid out to take the hit away from Almonte. One out later, the threat was ended.
TWO UP
Triston Casas: The big fella continues to show patience at the plate, working three walks (including one with the bases loaded to force in a run). He also shot an opposite-field homer to left and finished the day with three RBI.
Reese McGuire: McGuire has hit three homers this month -- in fact, all season -- and all three have come against the Yankees. He cranked a solo shot in the second inning.
TWO DOWN
John Schreiber: He's been a great story all season, but he's not perfect. In the seventh inning of a tie game, he was stung for a two-run homer by Anthony Rizzo, and that turned out to be the margin of victory.
Kiké Hernandez: The offensive burst that Herandez first enjoyed after returning from a lengthy IL stint now seems like a distant memory. He was 0-for-4 with a walk in five plate appearances.
QUOTE OF NOTE:
"It's a cool scene. These fans are great. They do an amazing job rooting for their team and obviously rooting for him. We've got one more night here. Hopefully we can keep doing what we've been doing and move forward.'' Alex Cora on the Judge home run watch.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* Reese McGuire has thrown out six-of-11 would-be base stealers since joining the Red Sox.
* Alex Verdugo had two more hits, extending his hitting streak to five games, during which he has seven hits.
* Xander Bogaerts had two hits to overtake Aaron Judge for the AL batting title lead.
UP NEXT: The Red Sox and Yankees conclude their 2022 season series with one more game at 7:07 p.m. It will feature RHP Brayan Bello (2-6, 4.75) vs. LHP Nelson Cortes (10-4, 2.90)