Yankees 6, Red Sox 9: Bullpen blows the game

Early on it seemed like this game might be doomed due to bad weather, but the light rain never led to a torrential downpour. Instead, the game was doomed by the Yankees’ bullpen. The Yankees didn’t put any runs on the board until the sixth inning, and finally took a 6-3 lead in the seventh, only to watch it slip away in the bottom half of the inning. Not a great way to open up this series.

Jordan Montgomery had a fine outing aside from a couple of home runs. With two outs in the second inning, Xander Bogaerts doubled off the left field wall, and Rafael Devers mashed a ball over the wall. Montgomery settled down for the next few innings then gave up a leadoff home run to Christian Vazquez.

The Yankees couldn’t get much of anything going against Drew Pomeranz early. However, the Red Sox had to turn to their bullpen sooner than they expected after Pomeranz left the game with back spasms in the fourth inning. In the sixth, Chase Headley singled and Todd Frazier homered to put the Yankees in the game.

Gary Sanchez took Joe Kelly deep to start off the seventh inning and tie the game. Next Didi Gregorius worked a walk, and Headley singled once again. Frazier walked to load the bases, bringing Ronald Torreyes to the plate. Torreyes hit an RBI off the wall to give the Yankees a 5-3 lead. With zero outs, Austin Romine struck out, but Brett Gardner drew a walk off Robby Scott to load the bases back up again. Another run scored after Aaron Hicks was hit by a pitch. The Yankees faced four different pitchers in the seventh and batted around, but the fun eventually came to an end. Addison Reed was able to get Aaron Judge and Sanchez out for the final outs.

Unfortunately, the Yankees’ newfound lead didn’t last very long. With Chad Green pitching, Vazquez hit a one-out single and Jackie Bradley Jr worked a walk. Green was lifted in favor of Tommy Kahnle and our old friend Eduardo Nunez beat a slow roller down the third base side to load the bases. Mookie Betts hit a sac fly, then Andrew Benintendi followed with an RBI single to cut the Yankees’ lead to just one run. Hanley Ramirez drew a walk and Mitch Moreland drove in two runs to give the Red Sox the lead.

Aroldis Chapman started the eighth inning and immediately gave up a single to Devers and walked Vazquez. With Bradley Jr at the plate, the Red Sox executed a double steal, then Devers and Vazquez both scored when Bradley Jr singled up the middle. The throw home flew past Romine and to the backstop which Chapman was not covering. Chapman was able to get the final three outs without doing any more damage.

The Yankees will try to even things out tomorrow with CC Sabathia set to take on Chris Sale at 7:10 EST.

Box score.