Yankees Clinch Win Over Red Sox with Late Surge

On Sunday afternoon, the matchup between Cam Schlitzer and Ranger Suarez morphed into a drama of bullpens.

As it happened, the Yankees, despite their strong pitching, were at risk of squandering what was shaping up to be a solid performance. With Aaron Judge sidelined, their lineup struggled to find its rhythm for much of the game.

But, in the end, they kept the best for last.

Cody Bellinger delivered the decisive blow in the bottom of the eighth, propelling the Yankees to a 6-1 victory against the Red Sox, much to the delight of the packed crowd at Yankee Stadium.

After Red Sox reliever Justin Slaten struck out two batters in quick succession, Bellinger—who has arguably been the Yankees’ standout player this season—hit his ninth homer, breaking the 1-1 deadlock.

This sparked a surge, with five consecutive runners reaching base, including an RBI single from Trent Grisham, followed by a three-run homer from Jazz Chisholm Jr. off left-hander Joe La Sorsa, allowing David Bednar to breathe easier for the ninth inning.

As the Yankees (now 38 wins, 26 losses) leveled their series against the Red Sox (27 wins, 36 losses), Schlitzer was replaced after pitching 5 2/3 innings, allowing just one run. In total, Fernando Cruz, Brent Headrick, Tim Hill, and Bednar combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief.

Schlitzer wasn’t at his sharpest, to be fair, especially facing his hometown team, which had previously triumphed in a big way during the AL Wild Card Series last October. Nevertheless, he managed to keep the Red Sox from running away with it.

Suarez, though, was a tough opponent, allowing just one run over 6 1/3 innings before the bullpen faltered.

Suarez retired the Yankees’ first nine batters in a row. Paul Goldschmidt broke that streak with a single in the fourth, and after a subsequent single from Bellinger, Grisham brought Goldschmidt home. This loaded the bases for Anthony Volpe, but he ended the threat with a flyout after having an advantageous 3-0 count.

Despite a shaky start, the Yankees took the lead in the fifth with a double from Jose Caballero and Goldschmidt’s two-out single.

However, the Red Sox wasted no time in evening the score in the sixth. After Sedan Rafaela’s single, Wilson Contreras hit a powerful double off the left-field wall. The Yankees had a chance to stop Rafaela from scoring, but Volpe’s relay throw was off the mark, allowing Contreras to cross home easily.

Coach Cruz then replaced Schlitzer, and Masanao Yoshida promptly flew out, moving Contreras into scoring position.

The Yankees threatened again in the sixth when Grisham hit a two-out double, but Volpe popped out, failing to capitalize on Suarez’s first pitch.