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FINAL: Yankees 3, Red Sox 2 - Boston squanders chance to walk it off after New York gets to Pivetta in sixth
The Red Sox had a golden opportunity to walk it off with the bases loaded, down 3-2, in the bottom of the ninth inning after three straight walks for Clay Holmes, but Alex Verdugo grounded into a game-ending double play in the first game of Tuesday's double-header. Nick Pivetta struck out 10 over 5.1 innings of work before struggling in a three-run bottom of the sixth as New York took the lead. Rafael Devers opened the scoring with his 30th home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth. It was just the Yankees' second win of the season over Boston.
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WHO: Red Sox (73-70) vs. Yankees (71-72)
WHEN: 1:35 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston
SERIES TO DATE: Red Sox lead season series, 8-1
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Nick Pivetta (9-8, 4.54) vs. RHP Randy Vasquez (2-2, 2.36)
TV/RADIO: NESN, Amazon, WEEI-FM 93.7
LINEUP
RED SOX
1. Alex Verdugo RF
2. Rafael Devers 3B
3. Justin Turner DH
4. Triston Casas 1B
5. Masataka Yoshida LF
6. Wilyer Abreu CF
7. Ceddanne Rafaela SS
8. Enmanuel Valdez 2B
9. Reese McGuire C
SP Nick Pivetta
YANKEES
1. DJ LeMahieu 1B
2. Aaron Judge RF
3. Gleyber Torres 2B
4. Giancarlo Stanton DH
5. Anthony Volpe SS
6. Isiah Kiner-Falefa 3B
7. Estevan Florial CF
8. Everson Pereira LF
9. Kyle Higashioka C
SP Randy Vasquez
WHAT'S UP
Boston will kick off Tuesday's doubleheader with a matinee after Monday's series opener was rained out.
Kutter Crawford was scheduled to get the start for Boston on Monday, but will instead get the ball in the nightcap on Tuesday. Pivetta will go in the first game.
Clarke Schmidt was set to open the series for New York, but will instead take the mound Wednesday. Vasquez will kick things off Tuesday before Carlos Rodon gets the nod at 7:10 p.m.
The Sox snapped a four-game skid with a 7-3 win over the Orioles on a rainy Sunday at Fenway.
They are effectively out of the playoff race, 6.0 games back of the final Wild Card spot in the American League. With that, Boston and New York are duking it out in this four-game set to avoid a last-place finish in the AL East. The Yankees are 2.0 games back of Boston for fourth in the division.
Pivetta will make his fifth appearance against the Yankees this season. He's previously allowed just two runs over 9.2 innings of work. He last faced them on Aug. 20 at Yankee Stadium, tossing 5.0 innings as the bulk reliever and giving up two runs (earned) on three hits (two HR) with one walk and eight strikeouts.
It will be his 13th career appearance and eighth start versus New York. He is 1-3 with a 7.23 ERA in that span. In five starts last season against the Yankees, he had a 9.51 ERA.
The right-hander took the loss last time out in Tampa as he gave up three runs (earned) on seven hits (two HR) with two walks and five K's in 4.2 innings.
Vasquez will make his eighth appearance and fifth start of the year for New York, having bounced between the minors and the majors. He threw 2.1 innings against Detroit last time out, giving up one run (earned) on three hits (one HR) with two walks and five strikeouts. The 24-year-old has never faced the Red Sox.