The Boston Red Sox, backed by five innings of two-run ball from Drew Pomeranz and four home runs on offense, edged the New York Yankees 5-4 Tuesday evening.
The Red Sox started this one off strong with a run in the first inning scoring Mookie Betts on a Xander Bogaerts ground ball into a fielders choice. The Yankees however, fought back just one inning later when Betts let a wild throw go allowing Aaron Hicks to score.
Later on in the fourth inning, first baseman Mitch Moreland hit a two run home run followed by a solo shot by Hanley Ramirez just a batter later. New York starting pitcher and ace, Masahiro Tanaka allowed five runs on five hits in five innings on the night before he was replaced by Tommy Lane after a third home run was allowed while facing Andrew Benintendi who made the score 5-1.
Lane would face just one batter and walk him before another call to the bullpen was made for relief pitcher Chad Green.
New York wouldn’t roll over though as first baseman Chris Carter smashed a solo home run, and then eventually a ground out that allowed second baseman Starling Castro to score.
After seven innings,the score was 5-3 Red Sox. While both Drew Pomeranz and Tanaka could only last five innings each, Robby Scott and Joe Kelly would come in as relief for Pomeranz to pitch one inning each. Matt Barnes would then relieve Kelly who would then be replaced by Kimbrel in the bottom of the eighth.
Kimbrel however would strike out shortstop Didi Gregorious, but on a passball which allowed him to take first and for designated hitter Matt Holliday to score.
In the top of the ninth the Red Sox left Jackie Bradley Jr. stranded on second after a double. Boston would head into the bottom of the ninth inning leading 5-4.
Kimbrel was dominant in the ninth inning sitting all three batters down including Aaron Judge on just three pitches.
The win placed the Red Sox one game out of first place in the AL East.
Rick Porcello is scheduled to take on the start against C.C. Sabathia tomorrow night at 7:05.
