The Yankees tagged Early in the top of the first as Paul Goldschmidt doubled to center to start. Ben Rice flied out to center but Amed Rosario got a base hit to left to move Goldschmidt to third. Cody Bellinger struck out swinging but Jasson Dominguez got a base hit to center to put New York on top. Anthony Volpe took strike three to end the inning with the Yankees up 1-0.
Yankees strike first
Schlittler got the ball in the bottom of the first as Masataka Yoshida grounded out to short to start. Ceddanne Rafaela walked then promptly stole second. Austin Wells committed catcher's interference to send Wilyer Abreu to first but Willson Contreras struck out swinging. Jarren Duran grounded out to second to end the inning.
Jazz Chisholm Jr got a base hit to left to start the top of the second but Jose Caballero's bunt attempt got Jazz forced at second. Wells struck out swinging but Caballero stole second. Goldschmidt walked but Rice grounded out to second to end the inning. Somehow Wells lost Caleb Durbin's pop up in the lights and it dropped in for a "single" then Caleb took second on the Anthony Seigler grounder to second. Carlos Narvaez was plunked but Marcelo Mayer struck out swinging. Yoshida grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Rosario struck out swinging to start the top of the third and Bellinger grounded out to second. Dominguez grounded out to second to end the inning. Rafaela took strike three to start the bottom of the third and Abreu struck out swinging. Contreras grounded out to first to end the inning.
The Yankees got another one in the top of the fourth although Volpe struck out second to start. Chisholm Jr popped up to second but Caballero hit a home run all the way to Las Vegas to increase the lead. Wells struck out swinging to end the inning with the Yankees up 2-0.
The Sox blew another rally as Duran broke a 0 for 18 slump with a base hit to right, but Durbin struck out swinging. Seigler hit a ground rule double down the left field line. Naturally with runners in scoring position Narvaez and Mayer both struck out swinging to end the inning as the boo's rained down.
Goldschmidt took strike three to start the top of the fifth and Rice grounded out to first. Durbin made a great play to rob Rosario of a hit to end the inning. Suddenly the Sox sprang to life in the bottom of the fifth as Yoshida walked to start. Rafaela got a base hit up the middle but Abreu struck out swinging. Contreras hit a double play ball to Rosario....BOOTED FOR AN ERROR! Yoshida scored and the runners moved up, which led to Yoshida scoring Duran with a sac fly to left to tie the game. Suddenly Durbin pounded his sixth home run of the season to put the Sox on top. Seigler struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox up 4-2.
Early returned for one final inning and Bellinger took strike three to start. Dominguez struck out swinging and Volpe flied out to left to end the inning. Early pitched well, holding the Yankees to 2 runs off 5 hits and a walk while striking out 9.
Early beats Schlittler this time
Paul Blackburn came in for Schlittler to start the bottom of the sixth and Narvaez got a base hit to center to start. Mayer forced him at second and Yoshida struck out swinging. Rafaela forced Mayer at second to end the inning.
Greg Weissert came in to crap his pants in the top of the seventh as Chisholm walked to start. Caballeron flied out to center but Wells got a base hit to right. Chisholm stole third and he scored on the Goldschmidt grounder to third. Sox manager Chad Tracy wanted Danny Coulombe to face Rice and Ben grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Yankees down 4-3.
Tim Hill came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Abreu flied out to left to start. Contreras flied out to right and Duran flied out to center to end the inning.
Garrett "The Lock" Whitlock came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Rosario struck out swinging to start. Bellinger flied out to right and Dominguez popped up to third to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the eighth with Yerry De Los Santos now on the mound. Durbin walked and Seigler got a base hit to right. Andruw Monasterio ran for Seigler and Narvaez dropped down a bunt...booted by De Los Santos for an error to load the bases. Naturally Mayer popped up to short and Ryan Yarbrough was brought in to face Yoshida. Sox manager Chad Tracy countered by pinch hitting Nate Eaton and it looked like he was hit with a pitch but the umpire said strike three. The Sox challenged and sure enough, Eaton WAS hit to score Durbin. Rafaela beat out a double play ball to score Monasterio but Abreu popped up to second to end the inning with the Sox up 6-3.
Aroldis Chapman came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Volpe walked on ball four that should have been strike three. Red Sox pitching coach Andrew Bailey popped up to call first base umpire Tyler Jones a "fucking piece of shit" and got tossed from the game.
Chisholm forced Volpe at second but Caballero got a base hit to left and Max Schuemann pinch hit for Wells. Schuemann flied out to right but Goldschmidt beat out a roller to third to load the bases. Spencer Jones ran for Goldschmidt but Rice grounded back to Chapman to end the game. The Sox had won it 6-3.
Sox win
Durbin Hero
Hero of The Night is Caleb Durbin. His two run homer proved to be the difference in the game.
The Good:
Nate Eaton drew a bases loaded HBP in the eighth inning.
Jarren Duran was 1 for 3 with an rbi.
Anthony Seigler was 2 for 4.
Andruw Monasterio scored a run as a pinch runner.
Carlos Narvaez was 1 for 2 with a hit by pitch.
Connelly Early got the win by tossing 6 innings of 2 run ball allowing 5 hits and a walk while striking out 9.
Danny Coulombe got the final out of the seventh inning.
Garrett Whitlock pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Aroldis Chapman earned his 15th save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Wilyer Abreu was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Marcelo Mayer was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Greg Weissert allowed a run in the seventh inning.
The Ugly:
Masataka Yoshida was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked and scored a run.
Ceddanne Rafaela was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in a run, stole a base and scored a run.
Willson Contreras 0 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
The Sox as a team are at a crossroads because half the fanbase wants to blow it all up and the other half thinks they can go on a run if they get injured guys back healthy. The glass half empty are the fans saying Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, Garrett Crochet, Romy Gonzalez, Patrick Sandoval, Kutter Crawford and Tanner Houck are never coming back so they may as well sell guys like Sonny Gray, Chapman & Contreras and eat Yoshida's contract. The glass half full is if those guys did return, and played well, they're right back in the thick of things. The problem plaguing the Sox all season is bad offense and the hot streak of Caleb Durbin came at a big time. Trevor Story came out and said he'll be ready by the All-Star Break while Sandoval is the only one who's rehab is actually going according to plan. The bottom line is if the offense fixes itself, they're a contender. If it doesn't, bye bye Breslow and the 2026 season. Tonight's game did feel good after dropping 2 of 3 to Colorado, especially Early outpitching Schlittler. Even if 2026 remains in the toilet, the future does look bright with Early, Payton Tolle, Jake Bennett and a healthy (we hope) Garrett Crochet & Ranger Suarez. The win improved the Sox to 33-46, good for last place in the AL East. The Sox look to make it two in a row against the Yankees tomorrow night when Payton Tolle (3-5, 3.08 ERA) takes on Will Warren of New York. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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