Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees Pick & Prediction SEPTEMBER 15th 2024
Preview and Prediction
Rafael Devers was taken aback when Gerrit Cole chose to intentionally walk him with one out and nobody on base in the fourth inning Saturday.
The unusual situation ultimately propelled the Boston Red Sox to their first road victory in two weeks and pushed them above .500.
They have the opportunity to split their four-game series with the American League East-leading New York Yankees with a win on Sunday afternoon.
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The Red Sox (75-74) began the series with two consecutive one-run losses before securing a 7-1 triumph on Saturday. Devers delivered a two-run single in the fifth inning off Cole to highlight Saturday's victory. Devers got his latest hit against the Yankees after Cole hit him with a pitch in the first inning that Boston manager Alex Cora believed was intentional.
"We had one of the best pitchers on the mound, and we showed up and won the game," Cora said after the Red Sox ended a seven-game road losing streak. "We've been joking around for a while here like the season has been over 15 times, and the next day they show up again and win a ballgame. Let's find a way to win a good ballgame tomorrow."
Devers' hit against Cole continued a recent slight upswing for the slugger, who has not hit a home run in his last 15 games since Aug. 25. Devers is 9-for-31 (.290) over his past nine games following a 4-for-41 slump in his previous 11 from Aug. 21-Sept. 4.
"That's what I'm trying to do every time I step up to the plate," Devers said through an interpreter. "Today was a big two-run hit. So for me, it was very significant to help the team against one of the best pitchers in the league."
The Yankees (86-63) are aiming for their third consecutive series win after being limited to five hits and having their three-game winning streak snapped on Saturday.
Gleyber Torres hit an RBI single, but Juan Soto, Aaron Judge and Austin Wells combined to go 1-for-12 with three strikeouts for New York, which went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
"That team is a quick hitter. They're built on momentum, and they'll put up a few runs very fast. We feel like that's been the case for them for a while," Wells said.
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Following Cole's bizarre outing, left-hander Carlos Rodon (14-9, 4.21 ERA) will attempt to set a career high for wins. Since pitching six scoreless innings against the Colorado Rockies on Aug. 23, Rodon is 0-1 with a 4.08 ERA in his past three starts. He allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits in six innings of a no-decision in Monday's 10-4 win over the Kansas City Royals.
Rodon is 3-4 with a 3.88 ERA in eight career starts against the Red Sox. Since joining the Yankees prior to last season, he is 2-1 with a 4.41 ERA in three starts against Boston.
Right-hander Kutter Crawford (8-14, 4.09), who has lost his last five starts due to poor run support, will take the mound for the Red Sox on Sunday. Crawford is 0-5 with a 3.68 ERA in his past five starts since Aug. 13, and the Red Sox have not scored more than three runs in any of those games.
Crawford has allowed three runs or less in 18 starts, including Tuesday when he gave up three runs in 6 1/3 innings of a 5-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.
Crawford is 4-1 with a 2.83 ERA in nine career outings (seven starts) against the Yankees, who tagged him for five runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings on July 27 in Boston.
Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees Recap SEP 15TH 2024
Aaron Judge clubbed his major-league-leading 53rd home run of the season as the host New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 5-2 on Sunday afternoon in the finale of a four-game set.
Judge's two-run blast came during a three-run third for New York (87-63), which took three games in the series. Gleyber Torres opened the frame with a solo shot before Juan Soto singled and Judge cleared the center field wall (445 feet) to put the Yankees up 4-0.
Boston (75-75) quickly cut its deficit in half.
Rafael Devers singled with one out in the top of the fourth, setting the table for Tyler O'Neill's two-run homer. It was O'Neill's 31st long ball of the season.
That would be all the Red Sox would muster against New York starter Carlos Rodon (15-9), who allowed the two runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. Rodon walked two and struck out five.
Giancarlo Stanton gave the Yankees some insurance with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
Kutter Crawford (8-15) got the start for Boston and gave up four runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings. He walked two and fanned seven.
Crawford was let down by the Red Sox lineup, which went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.
Boston's inability to come through with runners on was on full display in the top of the ninth. With Wilyer Abreu on first and Trevor Story on second with one out, New York manager Aaron Boone turned to right-hander Tommy Kahnle.
Kahnle needed just four pitches to get Jarren Duran to ground into a game-ending double play, giving Kahnle his first save of the season.
In all, five Yankees relievers combined to blank the Red Sox over 3 2/3 innings.
Connor Wong went 3-for-4 with two doubles as Boston fell for the fourth time in six games.
Torres finished with two hits, two runs and an RBI for New York, which improved to 8-6 this month.