BSJ Game Report: Red Sox 15, Yankees 5 - Justin Turner leads Sox offense with two homers and 6 RBI over Yanks

All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 15-5 win over the Yankees, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

The Red Sox welcomed the New York Yankees and the two teams renewed their rivalry from Fenway Park. In front of a sellout crowd of 37,086 fans, the Sox bats beat up on the Yanks en route to a 15-5 win. 

Justin Turner’s bat made the Yankees pay as the veteran hit two homers (9, 10), a 367-foot solo blast in the second inning and then a grand slam in the third inning. He also extended his hitting streak to seven games and has also reached base safely 55 times this season. 

“JT (Justin Turner) hit the ball in the air a few times. This was probably the hottest game we played the whole season. Seems like every game we have played it’s in the 50’s and today it felt like summer,” said Cora. 

Scary moment in the top of the fifth inning, with no one on and nobody out, Kyle Higashioka hit a line drive up the middle that hit Houck in the face. Houck immediately went down on the mound and was quickly helped up by the trainer. He walked off the field with a towel on his face and with the help of the trainer. Alex Cora said the ball hit Houck's right cheekbone below his eye, the team announced his injury as facial contusion. Cora told the media postgame that Houck was alert and conscious the entire time. The right-hander was sent to the hospital post-game and more information will become available on Saturday. 

TURNING POINT

The Red Sox broke the game wide open in the bottom of the third inning, led by the bat of Turner. New York made a mental error in the inning after Alex Verdugo grounded the ball to the first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Yanks pitcher Matt Krook (Major League debut) failed to cover first base which loaded the bases. Turner made him pay by crushing a 429-foot grand slam to deep center field scoring Connor Wong, Pablo Reyes and Verdugo. 

For Turner, it was his third career grand slam and his first as a member of the Red Sox. He finished the night with 3-for-5 and six RBI. 

The Red Sox chased Yankees starter Domingo Germán from the game after he tossed just two-plus innings, giving up seven runs, all earned, seven hits and two walks while striking out one. The Sox offense feasted off the Yankees bullpen, hammering Krook for four hits and five runs over 1 2/3 innings. 

“The guys did an outstanding job putting pressure on Germán. We did some great things and we put pressure on their defense. We were really good tonight offensively,” added Cora. 

UP

Masa Milestone: Masataka Yoshida collected four hits (4-for-4), it was his first four-hit game in the big leagues. Cora said pregame that by giving Yoshida the series finale against the Rockies off, it was meant to level set the left fielder. 

“That was the goal. He played the whole series against Tampa, he got on base at a high rate against Cleveland. He didn’t do much in New York other than walk a few times. The series against Colorado is a good time to reset him. Hopefully he feels better, he feels refreshed and we’ll go from there,” said Cora.

In addition to Friday night's performance, Yoshida has four three-hit games this season. 

Hitting Streak Extended: Verdugo extended his hitting streak to seven games (2-for-5), he had a double and scored two runs in the blowout. During his current hitting streak, Verdugo is hitting .355 (11-for-23) with three doubles. 

DOWN

The Yankees allowed 15 runs off 17 hits, it was the most runs allowed to the Red Sox since July 15, 2019 (19 runs at Fenway Park). 

Turner's grand slam was the fourth allowed by Yankees pitching this season, the last one coming against Taylor Walls of the Rays back in May. 

Corey Kluber came in to pitch in relief of Joe Jacques (2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2K) and his struggles on the mound continued. Kluber has given up 14 homers (team high) in 51 1/3 innings - 2.4 per 9 innings this season. No Red Sox pitcher has ever allowed more than 2.1 homers per 9 in a season of at least 50 innings.

TANNER HOUCK

Prior to exiting the game, Houck was cruising along in his outing after a shaky first inning (two hits and one earned run). Houck tossed four innings giving up four hits, one earned run with one walk while striking out two batters. The righty threw 59 pitches, 41 for strikes, while throwing his sinker 28 times earning 14 swings and one whiff. 

UP NEXT

Saturday: RHP Clarke Schmidt (2-6, 4.70 ERA) vs. RHP Brayan Bello (3-4, 3.78 ERA)
Sunday: RHP Luis Severino (0-1, 6.48 ERA) vs. LHP James Paxton (2-1, 3.09 ERA)