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BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 31: Junichi Tazawa #36 of the Boston Red Sox throws a pitch in the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on August 31, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Junichi Tazawa

Yankees game 130: Swing and miss at opportunities in loss

New York Yankees 3 – Boston Red Sox 4

Opportunity slipped by the Yankees on their series opener in Boston.

Against Eduardo Rodriguez, the Yankees took an unconventional start when Jacoby Ellsbury reached on catcher’s interference. Chris Young hit a ground ball to third baseman Pablo Sandoval, to what looked like a typical double play, but Sandoval dropped the ball for an error. Alex Rodriguez hit a line drive single to load the bases with no outs.

Carlos Beltran brought home a run on a sacrifice fly but a shallow fly out by Brian McCann and a strikeout of Chase Headley minimized the damage.

Through the first two innings for Ivan Nova, only a questionable infield single by Xander Bogaerts put one runner on base. In the third inning, Jackie Bradley Jr. got a clean hit to left field and Mookie Betts made the most of the runner on when he put a two-run home run over the monster in left.

In the fourth inning, Brian McCann led off with a walk. Chase Headley and Greg Bird got on base with a pair of singles to load the bases for the second time in the game. Didi Gregorius came through with a single to bring home a run but that was all they could muster. Brendan Ryan grounded it back to the pitcher, for a force out at home. For the last two outs, Jacoby Ellsbury hit a fly ball to left field where Bradley Jr. caught the ball and threw home, easily doubling off Bird, ending the inning.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, David Ortiz went the other way for a solo home run just over the wall for the monster.

In the fifth inning, Carlos Beltran hit a two-out double. Brian McCann and Chase Headley walked to extend the inning but Greg Bird struck out swinging, ending the third bases loaded threat of the game.

In the sixth inning, Ivan Nova faced trouble when David Ortiz led off with a double off the monster. Nova walked Travis Shaw to put two on base but followed it with a strikeout and a fly out. On a wild pitch, Ortiz made a run for third base but McCann threw him out easily to end the inning.

In six innings, Ivan Nova allowed three runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out three. The three runs came on two home runs.

The Red Sox added a run in the seventh inning on a ground out, extending their lead to two. In the seventh and eighth inning, the Yankees got runners on but hit into double plays for both innings.

In the ninth inning, against closer Jean Machi, Stephen Drew came up for his first at-bat and got a single. Alex Rodriguez walked to put two on. Carlos Beltran took a pair of questionable pitches on 3-1 and 3-2 to go down looking for the first out. A wild pitch put two in scoring position and Brian McCann walked to load the bases. On four straight pitches, Chase Headley walked to pull the Yankees within one. Greg Bird was called out on strikes for the second out and one of the Yankees hottest htiters was coming up to the plate. Entering the ninth inning with four hits on the night, Didi Gregorius was looking for the fifth hit. On a deep fly ball to right field, Rusney Castillo made the catch on the warning track, teasing the potential grand slam that just fell short.

The Yankees left a season-high 14 on base. They had four innings with the bases loaded and came through with one hit in six bases loaded at-bats. The Yankees had numerous opportunities but could not come through when it counted the most.

 

Win – Eduardo Rodriguez (8-5)

Loss – Ivan Nova (5-7)

Save – Jean Machi (4)

 

Notables

Yankees

*Didi Gregorius – 4 for 5, RBI (43)

*Carlos Beltran – 1 for 3, 2 BB, 2B, RBI (48)

Red Sox

*Mookie Betts – 2 for 4, R, Two-run home run (13) in the 3rd, 2 RBI (63)

*David Ortiz – 2 for 3, R, BB, Solo home run (29) in the 4th, RBI (80)

 

Current Yankees Record: 72-58