David Price simply didn't have it but he took the ball to start the top of the first inning. Jacoby Ellsbury doubled to lead off the game and moved to third on the sacrifice bunt by Brett Gardner. Ellsbury broke for home on the gro und ball by Alex Rodriguez and was thrown out by the alert Travis Shaw. Mark Teixeira lined one but it was snared by Xander Bogaerts to end the inning. Nathan Eovaldi took the mound for the Yankees in the bottom of the first and the Sox wasted no time scoring. Mr. Mookie Betts singled and Dustin Pedroia singled him to third. Chase Headley made a boo-boo on the ground ball by Bogaerts by going for the double play instead of coming home to nail Betts. Instead all they got was Pedroia at second as Betts scored to make it 1-0. A wild pitch moved Bogaerts to second but David Ortiz whiffed and Hanley Ramirez popped up to end the inning.
Starling Castro grounded out to open the top of the second inning. Headley atoned for his mental error with a single but Aaron Hicks banged into a double play to end the inning. Shaw whiffed to begin the bottom of the second. Brock Holt walked and advanced to second when Eovaldi sailed a pickoff throw. Holt then got caught in a run-down when Christian Vazquez hit a ball back to Nathan. Jackie Bradley Jr flied out to end the inning.
The Yankees struck in the top of the third inning. Ronald Torreyes singled and Austin Romine sacrifice bunted him to second. The gamble worked as Ellsbury doubled down the line to tie the game. Gardner advanced Ellsbury to third and in stepped A-Rod. Price threw a straight fastball right at the letters and A-Rod crushed it to dead center for a home run to give the Yankees a 3-1 lead. Teixeira grounded out to end the inning. The Sox wasted no time getting the runs back. Mr. Mookie grounded out but Pedroia singled. Bogaerts singled and Ortiz walked to load the bases. Ramirez singled to score Pedroia and Bogaerts to tie the game. Holt singled home Ortiz but Ramirez was thrown out at third....lovely. Still, the Sox held a 4-3 lead.
Castro singled to lead off the top of the fourth but Headley popped up. Hicks and Torreyes both grounded out to end the inning. It was a nice bounce back inning. The Sox threatened in the bottom of the fourth. Vazquez grounded out but JBJ singled. Betts forced Bradley at second and Pedroia singled, advancing Betts to third on a bad throw by Hicks. Bogaerts grounded out to end the inning.
The Yankees jumped back in front in the top of the fifth. Romine struck out but Ellsbury was hit with a pitch. Gardner walked and in stepped A-Rod. This time was the pitch was waist high and A-Rod crushed it for a 2 run double to put the Yankees back in front. Teixeira singled to score A-Rod and just like that it was 6-4. Castro grounded out and Headley struck out to end the inning as the boo birds rained down at Fenway. The Sox answered in the bottom of the fifth. Ortiz singled but was erased on the force by Ramirez. Travis Shaw tied the game with a 2 run home run down the right field line just like that. Holt and Vazquez grounded out but the game was tied again.
Price settled down in the top of the sixth. Hicks lined out, Torreyes lined out and Romine struck out in short order. The Sox wasted a huge chance in the bottom of the sixth. JBJ walked to chase Eovaldi and Ian Nova was brought in. Mr. Mookie and Pedroia flied out but Bogaerts singled. JBJ swiped third but Ortiz popped up to end the inning.
Price came back for the top of the seventh and gave Pedroia plenty of work. Ellsbury popped up then Gardner and A-Rod grounded out to end the inning. Price gave up 6 runs but went 7 full to give the bullpen a needed break. Inspired by Price's effort, the Sox took command in the bottom of the seventh. Ramirez flied out but Shaw singled. Holt forced Shaw at second and Yankees manager Joe Girardi brought in Dellin Betances to face Vazquez. The move backfired as Vazquez absolutely crushed a 2 run homer over the monster to give the Sox a 8-6 lead. JBJ flied out to end the inning.
It was Koji Time in the top of the eighth as Uehara took over for Price. Teixeira struck out but Castro doubled and moved to third on the ground out by Headley. A rare wild pitch from Uehara scored Castro to make it 8-7. Brian McCann pinch hit for Hicks and walked. Carlos Beltran pinch hit for Torreyes and whiffed to end the inning. Didi Gregorious played short, Beltran was in right and McCann caught the bottom of the eighth with closer Andrew Miller pitching. Mr. Mookie grounded out and Pedroia flied out, but Bogaerts doubled to extend the inning. Ortiz whiffed to end the inning.
It was up to Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel to close it out in the top of the ninth. Kimbrel blew away Gregorious, got Ellsbury to fly out and fanned Gardner to end it. The Sox had completed the sweep with an 8-7 victory.
Hero of the night is Christian Vazquez. His moon shot in the 7th inning proved to be the game winner.
The Good:
Dustin Pedroia was 3 for 5 with a run scored. He's hitting .324 on the season. Xander Bogaerts was also 3 for 5 with a run scored plus an rbi. He's hitting .306 on the season. Travis Shaw was 2 for 4 with a 2 run home run. He's hitting .322 on the season. Brock Holt was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. He's hitting .268 on the season. Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base. He's hitting .274 on the season. Craig Kimbrel earned his 8th save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Koji Uehara gave up a run in the 8th inning.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 5 with a run scored. He's hitting .263 on the season. David Ortiz was just 1 for 4 with a walk and a run scored. He's hitting .317 on the season. Hanley Ramirez was just 1 for 4 with a run scored but made the hit count with a 2 run single. He's hitting .283 on the season. David Price gave up 6 earned runs on 8 hits and a walk but went 7 full innings to earn the win.
Final Thoughts:
Price continues to struggle but the team picked him up big time. The Yankees are in deep trouble and the Red Sox exploited that. A 3 game sweep was what the doctor ordered with Aroldis Chapman looming on the horizon. Still, the Red Sox bullpen that have been good is about to get better with the return of Carson Smith. The Sox offense continues to produce and they're going to need it going up against the red hot Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. The good news is they miss the 6-0 Chris Sale. The Sox are now 15-10 and in first place in the AL East.
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