Series Recap: Yankees rock the Red Sox
In their three-game series against the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees were able to show their clout and place the entire division on notice. Save for a few yips in the first game, this series easily could've been a New York sweep. After the Bronx Bombers gave the Bostonians the boot, they retained their three-game advantage in the AL East, four in the loss column.
GAME 1
The first leg of the Yankees series against the Red Sox was not one for the time capsule in their 5-4 loss. New York scrapped back but the game didn't feel nearly as close as the score indicated.
TANAKA ROCKED
During spring training the word around the league was CC Sabathia was the best and most expensive fifth starter. Perhaps the honor now goes to Masahiro Tanaka. Facing a Boston club which is next to last in home runs, Tanaka yielded three round trippers. Mitch Moreland and Hanley Ramirez tagged him in the fourth and Andrew Benintendi teed off in the fifth. He let up more homers than strikeouts, 3-2. If he's not hurt, this could be more troublesome than a rough patch.
CHIP AWAY
The Yankees offense struggled, going 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Between looking silly on the field early and late at the plate, Chris Carter homered off Drew Pomeranz in the fifth. While the Yankees made Craig Kimbrel throw 30 pitches, they still couldn't break through with a hit during the bottom of the ninth.
GAME 2
In the second game, the Bronx Bombers used a familiar bounce back formula. Their power hitting was back intact and CC Sabathia put a stop to the bleeding and the nonsense which is the Boston lineup. The 8-0 blanking was the third shutout the Yankees have posted against the Red Sox this season, their most since 2009. https://twitter.com/MLBStatoftheDay/status/872686553486774272
DIDI GOES DEEP
Getting the Yankees on the board in the third was Gregorius. Didi homered to right-center against Rick Porcello and his solo shot extended his hitting streak to nine straight.
EVERYONE HATES LOVES CHRIS
After a leadoff triple to center by Starlin Castro and an RBI-single from Gary Sanchez, it was Carter placing the game essentially out of reach. Following a Chase Headley single, Carter launched a three-run bomb to left, making it 5-0 pinstripes.
Carter would notch another RBI with a single to left in the eighth.
SABATHIA SUPERB
Once again Sabathia played the role of stopper and he may soon be garnering some All-Star consideration. Throwing eight scoreless frames, CC fanned five and scattered five hits. Perhaps most impressive was his ability to set down the Red Sox, following a leadoff triple by Josh Rutledge in the fifth. Sabathia retired the final 12 batters he faced. With his 113th victory in a Yankees uniform, Sabathia tied Eddie Lopat for 14th on the all-time franchise wins list.
GAME 3
During the series finale, the Yankees displayed how much they outclass the Red Sox and easily could've swept this series. The 9-1 thumping helped the Yankees take yet another series and increase their lead in the AL East.
POUNDING PRICE
John Henry signs David Price's checks but the Yankees' own him. The New York lineup knocked him around with eight hits and six runs, including two home runs. New York had five hitters with more than one hit, with Judge's three leading the way.
SANCHEZ STADIUM SLUGGING
The Bronx Bombers backstop was responsible for those two home runs, a three-run shot in the third and a two-run jolt during the fifth. Sanchez came into the contest with zero homers at the new house and picked an opportune time to break out. It was all part of a five-RBI evening for El Gary. https://twitter.com/YESNetwork/status/872975678404268034
BIG MIKE STADIUM SAVANT
Michael Pineda is absolute dynamite in the Bronx. Pineda whiffed eight batters in seven frames and recorded his seventh victory. https://twitter.com/MLB/status/873016292026003459
GARDY MOVES UP
During the eighth, Gardner hit his 76th career home run and in doing so tied Gary Sheffield for 50th on the all-time franchise list. https://twitter.com/YESNetwork/status/872998114801704960
ON DECK
At 34-23 on the campaign, the Yankees to host the Baltimore Orioles in a three-game series starting Friday night. Pitching probables include Dylan Bundy vs. Jordan Montgomery, Chris Tillman vs. Luis Severino, Kevin Gausman vs. Masahiro Tanaka.