New York Yankees 4 — Boston Red Sox 10
An awful second inning is too much to overcome as the season approaches its end.
In the final start of Masahiro Tanaka‘s rookie season, the star Yankees pitcher was roughed up. After a quick hitless first inning, including a strikeout of Derek Jeter, Tanaka would start the inning with a leadoff double by Mookie Betts. Xander Bogaerts would strike out but Daniel Nava and Yoenis Cespedes would hit a pair of singles that scored Betts. Allen Craig would line into a double play but that would be just the beginning of a bad ending to a historic season.
The Yankees would get a double and a walk in the second inning against Joe Kelly but the Yankees would not plate a run.
After a strikeout and a walk, Tanaka would get one more out but the third out would elude the Yankees. Catcher Christian Vazquez hit a single to center field that socred the Red Sox second run of the game. Mookie Betts would walk to put two on and Xander Bogaerts would hit a single to left field that loaded the bases. Daniel Nava followed with a single that deflected off the glove of first baseman Chase Headley, allowing two runs to score as the ball rolled into foul territory. Yoenis Cespedes hit the single that knocked Masahiro Tanaka out of the game.
While Masahiro Tanaka did not look sharp, the important information is that he exited the game healthy. It appeared to be the case.
Preston Claiborne took over for Tanaka and did not do much better in finding that elusive third out. Allen Craig would hit a deep fly ball to center field where Eury Perez overran the ball and it deflected off his glove, allowing one run to score on the error. Garin Cecchini, who struck out to begin the second inning, joined the hit parade with a double off the monster. Rusney Castillo followed with a single to score the eighth run of the inning. The bases would be loaded on a single and a walk but the final out came on the 14th batter of the inning.
In just 1.2 innings, Masahiro Tanaka allowed seven runs, five earned, on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts. He threw 50 pitches in the start. Preston Claiborne, who got the last out of the abysmal second inning, allowed two unearned runs on three hits while walking one.
Chase Whitley would give the Yankees three scoreless innings before allowing one run in his fourth inning of work. With a 10-run deficit, the Yankees ended the shutout in the seventh inning. Jose Pirela hit a one-out triple and he would score on a sacrifice fly to plate the Yankees’ first run of the game. In the eighth inning, Francisco Cervelli, Austin Romine and Chase Headley hit three singles in a row that loaded the bases. Chris Young hit a single to left field and everyone advanced a base, scoring the Yankees’ second run of the game.
Tommy Layne replaced Joe Kelly and faced one batter. The one batter he faced was Stephen Drew, who hit a ground-rule double to right field, scoring two runs. This would be the last runs that the Yankees scored.
Derek Jeter did start as the designated hitter for the Yankees today. He received a warm reception from the Fenway Park crowd. In the third inning, Derek Jeter got his first hit since his historic walk-off with an infield single.
One game left in the Derek Jeter career.
Win – Joe Kelly (6-4)
Loss – Masahiro Tanaka (13-5)
Notables
Yankees
*Chris Young – 2 for 4, 2B, RBI (38)
*Stephen Drew – 1 for 3, BB, 2B, 2 RBI (26)
Red Sox
*Daniel Nava – 3 for 4, R, 3 RBI (37)
*Yoenis Cespedes – 2 for 4, R, 2 RBI (100)
Current Yankees Record: 83-78
