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The last time that Nathan Eovaldi and Wade Miley pitched against each other, the game went 19 innings and the Red Sox squeaked out the win. Today it was the Yankees turn to end up on top, which clinched the series win for them, giving the Yankees their fifth series win in a row.
It was quite a day for Brett Gardner, who drove in three of the Yankees' four runs. Didi Gregorius lead off the third inning with a single, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Gardner then hit an RBI double down the left field line to bring Gregorius home. Unfortunately, Gardner foolishly tried to turn his double into a triple and was thrown out sliding into third base. The Yankees scored again in the fifth inning after Chase Headley hit a leadoff double and was driven home by Gardner. For good measure, the Yankees tacked on their fourth run of the game in the ninth inning, a solo shot by Chris Young. That was his sixth of the year.
Eovaldi had a rough outing against the Mets during his last start, but he pitched much better today. Through six and two-thirds innings, he was charged with both of the Red Sox runs, while striking out two batters and walking one. The first was a home run by Dustin Pedroia on a hanging slider in the fourth inning. The Red Sox didn't score again until the seventh inning. With two outs, Eovaldi walked Blake Swihart, who made his major league debut today. Chris Martin came in to get the last out, but he wasn't able to do so before giving up a high RBI double off the wall to Mookie Betts. The Yankees got lucky on that one, as the ball just barely stayed in the park. Martin got Pedroia to ground out to end the inning.
Justin Wilson came on in the eighth, but with two outs and a runner on first, Dellin Betances was brought in to face Mike Napoli. Betances looked nasty today, not only striking out Napoli, but striking out the side in the ninth inning to earn his first save of the season.
Tomorrow's series finale will be yet another ESPN Sunday Night game, starting at 8:05 pm. Adam Warren will try to get the series sweep for the Yankees, facing off against Joe Kelly.