Boston Red Sox 5 – New York Yankees 1
Looking to get the series sweep, the Yankees turned to young Luis Severino.
A leadoff walk of Mookie Betts was not the start Severino wanted but the worst was just about to come. Dustin Pedroia jumped on a high fastball to put the Red Sox ahead with a two-run home run in the short porch but Severino settled down after that, striking out five of the next six batters to come to the plate.
Against the Yankees, Steven Wright and his knuckleball quickly took effect.
In the first inning, the Yankees got a two-out single from Brian McCann but he was stranded. In the second inning, the Yankees got a one-out walk of Dustin Ackley but he was erased on a double play.
After striking out the side in the second inning, Severino followed by retiring the side in the third and striking out the first batter in the fourth inning. Unfortunately, David Ortiz feasted on a high fastball and delivered a moonshot for a solo home run to extend the Red Sox lead to three. David Ortiz got to Severino one more time in the seventh inning, his second solo home run of the game. Severino finished his night with two outs and a single.
In 6 2/3 innings, Luis Severino allowed four runs on five hits with one walk and nine strikeouts. The four runs came on a career-high three home runs. In addition, the nine strikeouts was a career-high for the young pitcher.
It was all-or-nothing for Severino as he showed hints of improvements that could have felt better with run support.
The Yankees had a scoring opportunity at scoring when Starlin Castro hit a double just off the wall in right field. On a fly out to right, Castro advanced to third. On a knuckleball that got slightly away from Red Sox catcher Ryan Hanigan, Castro was too far off of third base and was tagged out trying to get back.
The attempt at a shutout was denied by Brett Gardner when he went deep for a solo home run with two outs in the ninth inning. Unfortunately, the Yankees recorded the last out of the complete game for knuckleball pitcher Steven Wright, who allowed one run over three hits with one walk on 101 pitches. The Yankees lost the game but won the three-game series.
Win – Steven Wright (3-3)
Loss – Luis Severino (0-5)
Notables
Red Sox
*David Ortiz – 2 for 4, 2 R, 2 Solo home runs (9) in the 2nd & 7th, 2 RBI (27)
*Dustin Pedroia – 1 for 4, R, Two-run home run (5) in the 1st, 2 RBI (16)
Yankees
*Brett Gardner – 1 for 4, R, Solo home run (3) in the 9th, RBI (7)
*Starlin Castro – 1 for 3, 2B
Current Yankees Record: 11-18
