Boston Red Sox 6 — New York Yankees 5 (19 innings)
The Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees went on a marathon but only one team would grab the win.
For the Yankees, Nathan Eovaldi made his Yankees debut. Eovaldi would have a rough start. After getting the first out, Dustin Pedroia would hit a single. Free agent acquisitions Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval hit a pair of singles with Sandoval driving in the first run of the game.
In what would be the last inning of the Nathan Eovaldi start, the last batter Eovaldi faced could be the difference between nine innings or 19.
After Nathan Eovaldi got the first out in the sixth inning, Pablo Sandoval hit a single to center field. A wild pitch advanced Sandoval to second base. Mike Napoli would walk and a second wild pitch put two runners in scoring position. Daniel Nava hits a single, deflecting off of Mark Teixeira and allowing two runs to score, putting the Red Sox ahead by three.
In 5 1/3 innings, Nathan Eovaldi allowed three runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out one.
In the bottom half of the sixth inning, Gregorio Petit started with a walk. Jacoby Ellsbury would hit a single to put two on with no outs. Alex Rodriguez would come up with one out and would cash-in with a single to center field, plating the first Yankees run. Mark Teixeira would walk to load the bases. Replacing starter Wade Miley, Robbie Ross would give up the second run of the inning with a sacrifice fly from Brian McCann.
The Yankees would be down by one until the ninth inning, against Edward Mujica.
After Mujica got the first two outs of the ninth inning, Chase Headley would get ahead of the count and found a pitch he liked, hitting it for his first home run of the season and tying the game at three.
With the game tied after nine innings, extra innings would ensue.
Fast forwarding to the 16t inning because, if the game is already 16 innings long and the lead has not changed, there is not much to talk about there. After getting the first out of the inning, Esmil Rogers would hang a curveball to David Ortiz and the Red Sox designated hitter would not let the mistake get by him, hitting his first home run of the season and giving the Red Sox the lead.
By the 16th inning, the clock passed midnight and it was officially Mark Teixeira’s birthday. How would the Yankees first baseman respond to his new year of age? Teixeira would jump on a knuckleball from Steven Wright
Happy birthday Mark Teixeira, what’s your present? More baseball of course.
The Boston Red Sox would score in the 18th inning on a single to center field by Pablo Sandoval. Normally, this is where you say “it’s over” but this game does not go 18 innings, it goes 19. In the bottom half of the inning, Brian McCann would start the inning with a double to center field. His pinch runner would come around to score on a double to deep left field, tying the game at five.
One more inning readers, this guy got through it all, you can too.
In the 19th inning, Xander Bogaerts would hit a one-out single. He would steal second and eventually advanced on a passed ball. Mookie Betts would hit a sacrifice fly to center field, giving the Red Sox the last lead they would need in this marathon baseball game.
By time, 6 hours, 49 minutes is the second longest game in New York Yankees history. For the Yankees, this is their sixth game of 19 innings or more in the entire storied franchise history. In total, 42 players were used, 21 from each team. There were 138 at-bats and 628 pitches thrown.
Credit must be given to some noteworthy pitching. Chasen Shreve was able to pitch 3 1/3 innings, allowing no runs on three hits while striking out four. He pitched a career-high 56 pitches. Despite giving up several go-ahead runs, Esmil Rogers pitched in 4 1/3 innings and gave up three runs, two earned, on five hits while walking one and striking out four.
Win – Steven Wright (1-0)
Loss – Esmil Rogers (0-1)
Notables
Red Sox
*Pablo Sandoval – 4 for 9, R, 2 RBI (3)
*Mookie Betts – 1 for 8, BB, 2B, RBI (2)
Yankees
*Mark Teixeira – 1 for 6, R, 2 BB, Solo Home Run (2) in the 16th, RBI (2)
*Chase Headley – 1 for 7, R, BB, Solo Home Run (1) in the 9th, RBI (2)
Current Yankees Record: 1-3
