The Yankees arrived at Fenway Park speaking optimistically about how this series was going to be different, feeding off the energy of a packed house and looking to avenge the three-game sweep that the Red Sox had dealt them earlier in the month at Yankee Stadium.
The Bombers punched back after seeing three first-inning runs cross the plate, but the momentum shifted in Boston’s favor once more. Domingo Germán fumbled an easy ground ball for a costly error and Gio Urshela was thrown out at home plate on a questionable send as the Yankees absorbed a 5-3 defeat on Friday evening at a sold-out Fenway Park.
Germán recovered after surrendering Xander Bogaerts’ two-run double and a Hunter Renfroe RBI knock in the first inning, but his inability to cleanly handle Rafael Devers’ one-out, third-inning tapper loomed large. Renfroe delivered a sacrifice fly to bring home the unearned run, giving Boston its second lead.
With the makings of a high-scoring affair in sight, highlighted by DJ LeMahieu’s two-run single in a three-run second inning, New York threatened in the fourth.
Urshela ripped a leadoff double and Miguel Andújar followed with a single to right field. Though Urshela had missed the last two games with a sore left shin that curtailed his running ability, third-base coach Phil Nevin sent Urshela home. Renfroe fired a seed to home plate, nailing Urshela by about five feet.
Yankees left-hander Zack Britton appeared to sustain an injury to the back of his left leg in the eighth inning, grabbing that area and then leaving the playing field.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].