September 12 – The Boston Red Sox and host New York Yankees will begin a four-game series on Thursday night that will have major implications on the postseason future of both teams.
With 16 games remaining in the regular season, New York (84-62) leads the Baltimore Orioles for second place in the AL East by 1 1/2 games.
Boston (74-72) was four games behind the Minnesota Twins in the race for the final American League wild-card spot. The Red Sox and Twins will play a three-game series at Fenway Park from Sept. 20-22.
Boston and New York enter Thursday’s series opener on the back of thrilling wins. Tyler O’Neill hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning to give the Red Sox a 5-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. sealed the victory with an infield single in the 11th inning. The team beat the visiting Kansas City Royals 4-3.
Juan Soto hit a two-run homer and reached 100 RBIs for the second consecutive season. Soto’s 199th career at-bat came in the sixth inning deep in the stands in right-center field, where he sat on his knees for several minutes before fouling off a pitch over his right leg.
“Juan has a really big swing,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “A little rope. Get off the mat, put one in the seat. I mean, just a big swing.”
Boone was asked if he was concerned Soto might have to leave the game.
“I know he’s in pain,” Boone said. “I don’t think I’ll have to pull him, but I’m prepared for anything. … Hopefully with treatment tonight, he’ll be better tomorrow.”
Keegan Akin’s moonshot to left hit the Green Monster, O’Neill’s 30th home run of the season and fifth in five games. That allowed the Red Sox to keep pace with the Twins, who beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-4 on Wednesday.
“We obviously need this,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “Hopefully this is the start of something big.”
Right-hander Cooper Criswell (6-4, 4.11 ERA) will start the series for Boston. He will be matched up against left-hander Nestor Cortes (9-10, 3.97).
Criswell will begin his career in the Bronx. He is 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA in two career starts against the Yankees (one start).
Cortez is 2-0 with a 5.22 ERA in 12 career games (six starts) against Boston.
In his final game at Wrigley Field, he earned the win after pitching 4 1/3 hitless innings in a 2-0 victory over the Cubs. It was Cortez’s first relief appearance since July 2021, when Boone said he would move one of his six starters to the bullpen.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed,” Cortez said. “I feel like out of all the starters, I’ve been the one here. Once (Gerrit) Cole went down, they picked me to be the opening day starter, not necessarily No. 1, but the opening day starter. I changed my routine, now they do that.
“I’m sure (Cortez) isn’t excited about the change, but you still have to do your job,” Boone said. “He went out and performed well.”
Now, Cortez, who has pitched a team-high 163 1/3 innings, will make his 29th start of the season.
“I will never back down from a challenge,” he said. “I will never put my teammates in trouble. You will always give me your best effort, whether I am happy or not.”
–Visual-level media
