The Boston Red Sox found a way to shut down the New York Yankees on the road Tuesday night, and that has them one step closer to the World Series. Craig Kimbrel needed to work out of a jam in the ninth inning, but in the end, the Red Sox took the ALDS in four games with a 4-3 road win, advancing to their first ALCS since 2013. After leading by a score of 4-1 for most of the night, the Yankees rallied for two runs in the final inning, but could not complete the comeback to keep their season alive.
Gleyber Torres had two runners on when he came to bat, but grounded out softly to third base, as Eduardo Nunez finished the game with a bare-handed play. The call was reviewed, as Steve Pearce's foot nearly came off the first base bag, but the call would hold. The replay review took 63 seconds to finalize, as the crowd of 49,641 hung out long enough to be let down for a second time in two minutes.
Rick Porcello got the start for the Red Sox and shut down the Yankees over five one-run innings, earning his first Postseason win in 13 appearances. After relievers Matt Barnes Ryan Brasier threw a perfect inning apiece, Red Sox manager Alex Cora switched things up by putting Chris Sale in for the eighth inning. He pitched a perfect frame, as he told the team that he wanted to pitch when he arrived to the ballpark on Tuesday.
The Red Sox had retired 11 Yankees in a row when Aaron Judge and Didi Gregorius each reached to begin the ninth. Neil Walker was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run, which was followed up by Gary Sanchez's long sacrifice fly that nearly ended the game in New York's favor. J.D. Martinez, Ian Kinsler, and Nunez all drove in runs for the Red Sox, who outscored the Yankees, 27-14, in the series, including 20-4 in the final two games. New York hit just .214 as a team, as stars like Sanchez, Andrew McCutchen, and Gregorius combined for just seven hits.
The Red Sox will now move on to what is sure to be a slugfest in the ALCS against the defending World Series Champion Houston Astros. The Astros eliminated the Red Sox in last season's ALDS, and will go to Fenway Park for the first game of the series on Saturday night.
Gleyber Torres had two runners on when he came to bat, but grounded out softly to third base, as Eduardo Nunez finished the game with a bare-handed play. The call was reviewed, as Steve Pearce's foot nearly came off the first base bag, but the call would hold. The replay review took 63 seconds to finalize, as the crowd of 49,641 hung out long enough to be let down for a second time in two minutes.
Rick Porcello got the start for the Red Sox and shut down the Yankees over five one-run innings, earning his first Postseason win in 13 appearances. After relievers Matt Barnes Ryan Brasier threw a perfect inning apiece, Red Sox manager Alex Cora switched things up by putting Chris Sale in for the eighth inning. He pitched a perfect frame, as he told the team that he wanted to pitch when he arrived to the ballpark on Tuesday.
The Red Sox had retired 11 Yankees in a row when Aaron Judge and Didi Gregorius each reached to begin the ninth. Neil Walker was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run, which was followed up by Gary Sanchez's long sacrifice fly that nearly ended the game in New York's favor. J.D. Martinez, Ian Kinsler, and Nunez all drove in runs for the Red Sox, who outscored the Yankees, 27-14, in the series, including 20-4 in the final two games. New York hit just .214 as a team, as stars like Sanchez, Andrew McCutchen, and Gregorius combined for just seven hits.
The Red Sox will now move on to what is sure to be a slugfest in the ALCS against the defending World Series Champion Houston Astros. The Astros eliminated the Red Sox in last season's ALDS, and will go to Fenway Park for the first game of the series on Saturday night.
