The New York Yankees were able to take the first series of this 10-game homestand from the Boston Red Sox with an imperious victory.
- Boston Red Sox: 2 (17-13)
- New York Yankees: 8 (11-17)
- American League, FINAL, Box Score
- Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
By Christian Kouroupakis
Its hard to comprehend that this New York Yankees offense is the same one that was so anemic just a week ago but face it: it’s the same one and it earned a 8-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday afternoon.
Shortstop Didi Gregorius went 2-for-3 with three RBI and backup catcher Austin Romine came up huge with a 3-for-4 day with two RBI including a double in the third inning to help the Yankee offense persevere against Boston’s ace, David Price.
Chase Headley (aka: the black hole in the lineup) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. His batting average is still at a miserable .169 and he has yet to record an extra-base hit this season, but it’s about time he showed some sort of life with the lumber.
For the Red Sox, Price struggled for the second consecutive outing and it all fell apart in fourth inning as the Yankees sent up seven batters en route to three runs scored.
Boston’s $217-million dollar investment suffered his first loss of 2016 despite owning a 6.75 ERA. He is 4-1 in his first season as a Red Sock.
Nathan Eovaldi came up huge for New York, who were without Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller today, with eight innings of two run ball with six strikeouts (zero walks).
Nasty Nate’s fastball was on, his splitter was nasty, and he worked efficiently (104 pitches) which are all characteristics of a solid pitching performance.
The way he attacked hitters with his electric fastball should serve as a blueprint of success for the right-hander as he attempts to find some sort of consistency.
Thanks to a surplus off offensive production to go along with a dominating pitching performance, the Yankees handed their rival just their sixth loss in the last 17 games. They have also won back-to-back games for the first time in two weeks.
Yankees win!
FINAL: #Yankees 8, Red Sox 2. #StartSpreadingTheNews pic.twitter.com/o9zxVDgLDl
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 7, 2016
Turning Point:
Sir Didi powered the offense with his big three-run double to right field in the bottom of the fourth inning. Price tried to get him to chase a pitch low and in but Gregorius had something else in mind.
In attempt to spoil the pitch, he ripped a double into the right field corner to score Mark Teixeira, Starlin Castro, and Dustin Ackley, to put the Yankees ahead 4-2 which was plenty enough to win the contest.
Note: the initial scoring was a triple but MLB official scorers ruled that the hit was a double and Didi moved to third on Dustin Pedroia’s throw to home plate.
Bases-clearing double? That’ll do, @DidiG18. That’ll do. https://t.co/CPga2BO5oB pic.twitter.com/kkArWwlvmF
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 7, 2016
The Price Is Wrong:
Entering this ballgame, Price had given up 38 runs in 65.1 (5.23 ERA) innings of work in 11 starts against the Yankees since 2014.
Well, that ERA got a little higher as he was tattooed for six runs on seven hits and the lefty even walked three. His K/BB ratio against New York is 2.79 which is well below his career average of 3.74.
This season, Price owns a 9.64 ERA against New York which just affirms one thing: The former CY-Young award winner and ace cannot pitch with success against the New York Yankees.
David Price came into today with a 5.23 ERA (38 ER/65.1 IP) in 11 starts vs. the Yankees since the start of 2014.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) May 7, 2016
Injury Update:
With the injury bug biting the Bombers nice and early this year, this segment will be a common feature.
In the bottom of the first of Friday night’s dramatic victory, Jacoby Ellsbury hurt his hip against his former team after taking third base on a pass ball. Ellsbury stayed in the game for a brief moment to score a run prior to exiting the game.
After being diagnosed with a minor hip strain, Ellsbury claimed he is “just sore” and is confident he’ll avoid being placed on the disabled list.
Jacoby Ellsbury is “sore,” according to Joe Girardi, but there is no plan to put him on the disabled list at this time.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) May 7, 2016
What’s Next:
The final game of this three-game set with Boston tomorrow night in prime time on ESPN for the second straight week on Sunday night baseball.
Steven Wright (2-3, 1.67 ERA) vs Luis Severino (0-4, 6.31)
The Yankees discussed a break or demotion for the struggling youngster, who owns a 0-4 record with a 6.31 ERA in five starts.
It also seems as though the struggles on the mound have found their way into Severino’s head, especially after dropping two soft tosses from the Yankees’ first baseman Mark Teixeira leading to a run scored in Tuesday night’s 4-1 loss in Baltimore.
The outing did have some promise to it, though, as Sevy only allowed four runs (three earned) in six innings. He is still, in my mind, one bad start away from a demotion.
Opposing him is the 31-year old knuckleballer, Steven Wright. The right-hander has gone at least six innings while allowing two earned runs or fewer in all five of his starts this season. Opposing batters are hitting .188 against him.
First pitch will commence at 8:05 on ESPN.
