Yankees 8, Red Sox 7: Yankees survive Red Sox, the endless march of time

The Yankees and Red Sox are pretty well known for playing long games. Add in it being an ESPN Sunday night game and their reputation only gets worse. They did not change that rep tonight. Although, at least this game was interesting. Twice, the Yankees rallied from three run deficits. And there were game-winning contribution from Brett Gardner and Esmil Rogers. You know, the usuals. After a long night, the Yankees finally came away with an 8-7 win over the Red Sox.

The Red Sox got on the board quickly in the bottom of the first. Brock Holt led off with a single and moved to third when Dustin Pedroia singled. David Ortiz flew out for the first out of the inning, but it was deep enough to score Holt. A walk to Yoenis Cespedes and a single by Mike Napoli loaded the bases with still just one out. Daniel Nava then picked up a single that scored two more runs. David Phelps got Xander Bogaerts to ground into an inning-ending double play, but the score was already 3-0.

The Yankees would come back and tie the game in the top of the second. Mark Teixeira led off the inning with a walk. After Carlos Beltran singled, Brian McCann drew a walk to load the bases with no one out. After Chase Headley struck out, Stephen Drew grounded one to the pitcher's mound. Clay Buchholz threw to second to get the first out, but Drew was quick enough to beat the throw to first and avoid the double play. That allowed a run to score and make it 3-1. Martin Prado then kept the inning going with a walk. That brought Gardner to the plate. Gardner poked a double to left, scoring two runs and tying the game.

However, the Red Sox would come right back and retake the lead in the bottom of the second. With one out in the inning, Christian Vazquez singled. After Holt grounded into a force out at second, Pedroia hit a two-run home run to make it 5-3 Red Sox.

Phelps would not come back out for the third inning as Chase Whitley came out to start the inning. Phelps went just two innings, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks. (We of course later found out it was due to injury, because duh.)

In the top of the fourth, the Yankees offense got going again. McCann led off the inning with a double. After Headley lined out, Drew also doubled. That scored McCann and made it 5-4.

But in the bottom of the fourth, the Red Sox extended their lead again. Vazquez led off the inning with a single. After two straight force outs at second, Ortiz hit a two-run home run to make it 7-4.

Rogers would come out to start the fifth inning for the Yankees, ending Whitley's day. Whitley went two innings allowing two runs on two hits and a walk.

However, the Yankees cut back into the deficit again in the fifth. With two outs in the inning, Beltran kept the inning alive with a double off the Monster. McCann then drew a walk, bringing up Headley. Headley dunked a double to right, scoring Beltran. Drew then added a single. That scored both runners and suddenly, we were tied again.

And then, an inning later, the Yankees somehow took the lead. Gardner led off the top of the sixth with a home run to put the Yankees ahead 8-7.

Rodgers wound up pitching three innings, allowing no hits and one walk while striking out three. A pretty nice Yankee debut for him. Dellin Betances came in to pitch the eighth and struck out two as per usual.

After the Yankees couldn't add to their lead in the top of the ninth, David Robertson came in to try and finish off a win. Robertson didn't get the inning off to the best start when he walked Vazquez on four pitches. However, he got Holt to line one straight at Headley. And with pinch-runner Mookie Betts going, they were able to double him off first. That left the game up to Pedroia. After Pedroia narrowly avoided a game-tying home run, Robertson got him to ground out. The Yankees came away with a grueling 8-7 win and a series win over the Red Sox.

The Yankees will now head back home to take on the Tigers in a series starting tomorrow at 7:05 eastern. The starting pitchers will be Brandon McCarthy and Max Scherzer.

Box score.