Boston Red Sox score season-high runs, rout New York Yankees 15-5
Justin Turner was all smiles after collecting six RBIs on two home runs in the first three innings. ERIN CLARK/GLOBE STAFF (Getty Images)
The Boston Red Sox hosted the New York Yankees at Fenway Park for the first of a three-game set last Friday and sent the home crowd happy behind six runs batted in from designated hitter Justin Turner. Starting pitcher Tanner Houck was forced off the mound in the top of the fifth after being struck in the face with a comebacker, but a relatively clean bill of health meant a night of overall jubilation for Boston’s largest home crowd of the season.
The Yankees opened the scoring in the top of the first. First baseman Anthony Rizzo brought right fielder Jake Bauers home from third with a groundout, but Houck kept the damage to a minimum after striking third baseman Josh Donaldson out with a sinker at 93 mph.
Yankees starting pitcher Domingo Germán proceeded to give up seven earned runs in the next two innings before being pulled in the bottom of the third. Red Sox left fielder Masataka Yoshida hit a two-run double in the bottom of the first and two-run home run in the bottom of the second, but the trouble really began for the Yankees in the third.
Germán gave up two doubles, a single, and a wild pitch without recording an out, then his replacement — relief pitcher Matt Krook — proceeded to give up two singles before a 429-foot grand-slam for Turner that made the game 10-1 in favor of the Red Sox.
The remainder of the game was largely unremarkable outside of Houck’s early exit. Relief pitcher Joe Jacques stepped in for the Red Sox after the incident and earned his first major league win, finishing with a final line of two innings pitched, one earned run, and two strikeouts. The Yankees were able to relatively quiet the Boston bats after Krook was replaced by relief pitcher Albert Abreu, but they were unable to escape the ignominy of having to put a position player on the mound in the bottom of the eighth. Primarily an outfielder, Isiah Kiner-Falefa was forced to step in and record three outs — which he did, but not before giving up a 15th and final run.
A Saturday full of rain meant that the second game of the series had to be rescheduled, so the Yankees will have their chance at revenge on Sunday in a double header that includes an appearance on Sunday Night Baseball. While both squads have been mired in injuries and inconsistent play, neither will want to cede any ground to their mortal enemy and both games are sure to be entertaining for at least one fan base.
