Red Sox Win 3-0 For Split After Yankees Take First Game 3-0
BOSTON (AP) — Mookie Betts hit a two-run homer and Jackie Bradley Jr. went over the bullpen wall to steal one from Aaron Judge, helping David Price shut down the New York Yankees 3-0 on Sunday night and giving the Red Sox a split of their day-night doubleheader.
A day after the teams played 16 innings over 5 hours, 50 minutes, they spent another long day at Fenway Park and ended the four-game series the way they started: with the Red Sox 3 1/2 games up in the AL East.
CC Sabathia allowed two hits over six innings in the opener, and Didi Gregorius hit a solo home run to give New York a 3-0 victory.
It was also 3-0 in the nightcap when Judge, the winner of the All-Star Home Run Derby, came up with a runner on first and launched a high fly ball into the Fenway triangle, just in front of the 420-foot marker. Bradley stalked it toward the wall that juts out from right-center, leaped and reached over to pull the ball in.
The sold-out crowd gave a huge cheer, and another after Matt Holliday struk out to end the inning. The Red Sox gathered at the edge of the dugout steps to congratulate Betts — with Price pushing his way through to thank him.
Betts had three hits in the night game. Price (5-2) pitched eight innings, allowing seven hits and striking out eight.
One night after giving up a tying homer in the ninth, Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 24th save.
Masahiro Tanaka (7-9) gave up three runs on eight hits in 7 2/3 innings, striking out nine. The Yankees are the last team in the majors to be shut out.
Betts homered over the billboard above the Green Monster, his 17th of the year, with one out in the third inning to end Boston's scoreless streak at 24 innings. He made it 3-0 when he singled to lead off the sixth, took second on an error by second baseman Starlin Castro, third on a groundout and scored on Dustin Pedroia's second hit of the game.
In the early game, Sabathia (8-3) made his second start since a stint on the disabled list (strained left hamstring). He walked five and struck out three to improve to 4-0 in his last five road starts.
Judge, who leads the majors with 30 homers, got an infield single on a dribbler to the pitcher in the seventh, ending a 0-for-15 slide. Aroldis Chapman tossed a one-hit ninth for his ninth save.
In the makeup of an April 25 postponement, the Red Sox hit just four balls out of the infield and extended their scoreless streak to 22 innings.
Rick Porcello (4-12) gave up three runs — one earned — and nine hits in six innings. The 2016 AL Cy Young winner leads the major leagues in losses despite making his 17th consecutive start of six innings or more.
WINNING STREAK
New York had not won back-to-back games since a season-high, six-game spurt from June 7-12, going 7-19 before winning Saturday and in the first game Sunday.
"It's been a long, long time," manager Joe Girardi said. "Really good especially after the difficult loss we had Friday night for our guys to respond the way they did."
SLEEPY BATS
The Red Sox stranded 10 runners and went 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position in the opener. They went 1 for 7 in the late game, leaving them 3 for 38 with RISP in series and 3 for 58 against the Yankees this season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: RHP Michael Pineda was transferred to the 60-day DL while he seeks a second opinion on whether he needs Tommy John surgery.
Red Sox: RHP Blaine Boyer was put on the 10-day DL with a strained right elbow. He left Saturday after pitching an inning and warming up the next.UP
NEXT
Yankees: Open a three-game series against Minnesota. Adalberto Mejia (4-4) starts for the Twins, against a New York starter TBA.
Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (4-2) starts against Toronto's Marcus Stroman (9-5) on Monday night in the opener of a four-game series.
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