September 14 – A series of thrilling wins decided in the final inning could give the New York Yankees some momentum toward the American League East title.
The Yankees have won three consecutive games in the seventh inning or later, thanks to Aaron Judge’s first home run in more than two weeks, and the Yankees will try to extend their division lead against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday afternoon.
The Yankees (86-62) beat the Red Sox 5-4 on Friday on Judge’s seventh-inning grand slam and took the lead.
Judge hit his major-league-leading 52nd home run, his first since hitting two against the Colorado Rockies on August 25, ending his career-high 16-game home run drought.
“The seventh inning felt a little bit like a playoff atmosphere because we were rallying,” Judge said. “So we were waiting, that’s for sure.”
The dramatic explosion gave the Yankees six wins in eight games and a three-game lead over the second-place Baltimore Orioles. It was New York’s largest advantage since June 14.
“Hopefully no one is watching the situation,” the judge said. “Of course I’m not.”
Boston (74-74) will try to avoid falling below .500 for the first time since June 11. Cards’ place.
“I hate to say it, but it’s still there for us,” Boston coach Alex Cora said. “We just need to win a couple of games to make next week interesting.”
Boston’s Masataka Yoshida and Trevor Story hit two-run homers Friday, then Zach Kelley went no-out in the seventh inning, leading to Cam Buser giving up a grand slam to Judge.
Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers is one for three and hasn’t hit a home run in his last 15 games. Since his last deep dive on Aug. 25, Devers is hitting .175 (10 for 57).
No hitter has hit more homers than Devers, the Yankees’ Saturday starter Gerrit Cole, who drove deep eight times with his right hand. Devers drove in 13 runs while going 39 (.333) and Cole had 18 RBIs.
In his most recent outing, Cole (6-4, 3.36 ERA) gave up two runs in the first inning and three runs in six innings on Sunday, losing 2-1 to the Chicago Cubs. It was the sixth time in his last seven games he allowed a point or fewer.
Cole started 18 regular season games against the Red Sox, going 7–5 with a 4.84 ERA. On July 6 versus Boston, he gave up four runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings, resulting in a no decision.
Boston’s Brayon Bello (13-7, 4.70 ERA) will try to earn back-to-back starts for the first time after winning his last three games before the All-Star break. Since those wins, Bello is 3-2 with a 3.75 ERA in 10 starts.
Bello surpassed last season’s win total by allowing two runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings in a 12-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday.
The right-hander has a 2-3 record with a 2.66 ERA in seven career starts against the Yankees. This year, however, New York marked him with eight runs (seven earned runs) and 11 hits over 9 2/3 innings in two starts in Boston.
–Visual-level media
