The Yankees blew a late three-run lead as they lost their third straight game in a 9-7 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Friday night.
Here are the conclusions…
-The Yankees bullpen continues to be a major weakness for the team, costing them Friday’s game.
After taking a 7–4 lead in the seventh inning behind home runs from Aaron Judge It is Austin Wellsthe Yankees bullpen was unable to maintain that lead. Lucas Weaver allowed a two-run home run to Ceddane Rafaela in the bottom of the seventh. He started the eighth and allowed two runners on base before clay holmes relieved him with one out, only to give up an RBI double to Tyler O’Neill and a single RBI for Masataka Yoshida for Boston to take a 9-7 lead.
The Yankees threatened in the bottom of the ninth with a Green Monster single from Wells and another single from Gleyber Torres. But DJ Le Mahieu hit the nail on the head and Antonio Volpe based on the defender’s choice to end the game.
-Judge appeared to be the hero of the night, blasting a mammoth 470-foot three-run homer in the seventh to give the Yankees a 6-4 lead. That was followed by a home run by rookie Wells to make it 7-4, but a three-run lead wasn’t enough for the pen.
-It didn’t help that the Yankees didn’t make much use of their starter, Nestor Cortesany.
It was evident in the first inning that Cortes was in for a long night when he loaded the bases with just one out, although he escaped the jam allowing just one run after getting O’Neill to hit a sac fly and Yoshida popping up to end the inning.
After Volpe tied the game in the second inning with a solo home run, Cortes returned it in the third on an RBI single to Devers. He had more trouble in the fourth with two strikeouts, allowing a single Jarren Duran and a double for Rob Refsnyder to make it a 3-1 game.
Once again, the Yankees tied the game, but Cortes was unable to maintain the lead in the fifth, walking Devers, allowing a double to O’Neill and a run to score on a sac fly by Yoshida. Cortes was eliminated with two outs in favor of Tommy Kahnle to end the turn.
-Volpe continued his strong hitting since the All-Star break with a 2-for-5 night, including his eighth home run of the season – a solo shot in the second inning to tie the game – and an infield single in the top of the fifth to spark a two-run inning. However, when he came up in the ninth for the go-ahead run, he gave up a fielder’s choice to end the game.
Game MVP: Masataka Yoshida
-The Red Sox got the better of the Yankees for the second time this season, going ahead in the eighth inning and finishing the game 1 for 3 with three RBI.
Highlights
What is the next
The Yankees continue their three-game series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 pm ET.
Marcus Stroman (7-5, 3.51 ERA) takes the mound for New York while Kutter Crawford (6-8, 3.37 ERA) will leave for Boston.
