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BOSTON, MA - JULY 12: Mark Teixeira #25 of the New York Yankees congratulates Brian McCann #34 after he hit a two-run homer during the second inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on July 12, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Game 88: Yankees finish first half on a high note

The New York Yankees ended the first half of the season a high note on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Boston Red Sox 8-4 in the final game of a three-game set from Fenway Park.

With the win, the Yankees took two-of-three from their division rival, improving to 48-40 on the season. They will head into the All Star break with a three game lead in the American League East Division.

Scoring Summary:

In the top of the second inning, Brian McCann got the Yankees on the scoreboard, blasting a two-run home run over the Green Monster in left field to give the Bronx Bombers a 2-0 lead.

Boston would retake the lead in the bottom half of the third inning, as three RBI singles put them up 3-2 against Yankees’ starter Nathan Eovaldi. Xander Bogaerts, Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez are responsible for the RBI hits in the inning. In the top half of the fifth inning, the Yankees were able to tie up the ball game at three. After Chase Headley reached on an infield single, advancing McCann to third base, Red Sox starter Wade Miley was called for a balk on a pickoff attempt to first base by home plate umpire Angel Hernandez, which forced in the tying run. The sixth inning served as the inning of doubles for the Yankees, as the Bronx Bombers slugged three RBI doubles to give them a 6-3 lead. Alex Rodriguez started the rally with his double, and was followed by doubles from Chris Young and Chase Headley.

 

After the big inning from the Yankees in the sixth, the Red Sox tacked on a run of their own in their half of the inning, as Shane Victorino hit an RBI single to center field, scoring Ramirez. Heading into the ninth inning, the Yankees were not done, as they added two more runs to extend the lead to 8-6. After picking up his first big league hit in the seventh inning, second baseman Rob Refsnyder smashed a two-run home run to left field for his first Major League home run.  With his home run, Refsnyder made some history:

As the game looked out of reach, the Red Sox showed some life in the bottom of the ninth inning. With runners on first and second and one out, closer Andrew Miller  fielded a ground ball and tried to turn a double play, but Refsnyder couldn’t handle the throw to second base, allowing Brock Holt to score easily. The Sox added another run on a sacrifice-fly by Alejandro De Aza to make it 8-6, but that’s all they would get.

Although Nathan Eovaldi didn’t have his best stuff, he still was able to give the Yankees five innings to pick up his ninth win of the season. The Yankees bullpen stepped up once again, helping the team clinch the series victory.

As we now head into the All Star break, the Yankees definitely have to be happy about their first half of the season. In a very tough American League East Division, the team will have to keep it up in the second half.

After this week’s All Star festivities, the club will take on the Seattle Mariners in a three-game set at Yankee Stadium starting on Friday night.

FINAL:
New York Yankees (48-40)- 8
Boston Red Sox (42-47)- 6

W: Nathan Eovaldi (9-2)
L: Wade Miley (8-8)