The Yankees and Red Sox played a series at Fenway Park with the Red Sox winning 2-1. Onto the recaps.

Game 1: Tanaka vs. Owens

Masahiro Tanaka was in control as he pitched a decent 6.2 IP 6 H 2 ER 5 Ks. Tanaka’s one big mistake was a two-run double to Jackie Bradley Jr. in the 7th inning. Tanaka used his fastball (30%), slider (31%), and split (27%) around the same rate which has been the story for him this season. Before the disastrous 7th inning, Tanaka only gave up three hits (all singles) and really relied on his fastball command. His fastball velo averaged around 90 mph but he hit his spots and was successful.

The Yankees put up their usual two runs which has been a troubling sign for the Yankees offense in the month of April. Alex Rodriguez hit a long solo home run in the 2nd inning. The pitch was a fastball over the plate that Rodriguez was able to pull into the left field. The second run came in the 5th when Brett Gardner hit a single between the first and second baseman to drive in Did Gregorius. 2-0 Yankees.

Perhaps the biggest problem for the Yankees offense were the double plays. The team hit into four double plays that can be broken down into: two ground-out double plays, strike out ’em out, throw out ’em out double play, and a failed sacrifice fly. Sequencing really hurt the Yankees as they were unable to rally.

Henry Owens was on the mound making his second start for the Red Sox. He pitched 6 IP 6 H 2 ER 3 BB 3 Ks. His pitching line looks nice but his command was very shaky. His off-speed pitches were missing the plate a great deal and, at one point, he had thrown more balls than strikes. Remarkably, he was able to keep the Yankees only to two runs.

As mentioned before, Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a crucial two-run double in the 7th inning to drive in Travis Shaw and Brock Holt. JBJ squared up a high fastball and hit it off the Green Monster. In the next inning, David Ortiz hit a two-run dinger off Dellin Betances. Ortiz guessed a first pitch curveball and got a hanger from Betances. 4-2 Red Sox.

The score hung-on and the Red Sox beat the Yankees 4-2.

Game 2: Pineda vs. Porcello

The Red Sox blanked the Yankees 8-0. This must be the lowest point for the Yankees so far.

Pineda truly labored through his outing, posting a final pitching line of 5 IP 5 H 2 ER 3 BB 3 Ks. His final line is not terrible (compared to his previous starts) but Pineda continued his problem of not being able to put batters away, nor getting out of innings when there are tw outs. The Red Sox were 0-10 when there were fewer than two outs, but 5-10 with two outs. That should never happen.

The Yankees offense were so, so, so bad. This was the first time the Yankees got shutout at Fenway Park since 1965 (lost 10-0). The team only managed five hits and one walk, and only one runner reached third base all game. Terrible production throughout the lineup. In their last 17 games, the Yankees are hitting .216/.284/.318. Oh man, oh man.

Rick Porcello dominated the Yankees, pitching 7 IP 5 H 1 BB 6 Ks. Porcello had his entire arsenal working for him. He relied heavily on his fastball (67%) but his curve (12%) at the highest rate this season. He was able to use the pitch effectively against righties in pitcher-favorable counts. Porcello has really progressed throughout this season as he pitched his second straight quality start.

The Red Sox scored eight runs with six runs coming against the Yankees bullpen. The Red Sox made it 2-0 when Mookie Betts hit a floater for a two-run double that just dropped in front of Carlos Beltran. The real action happened in the 6th/7th innings when they scored six unanswered runs including a Big Papi home run. Ortiz will forever kill the Yankees; it is sad his career is coming to an end.

Red Sox take Game 2 and look to sweep with Price on the mound.

Game 3: Eovaldi vs. Price

The Yankees scored more than two runs! Unfortunately, the Red Sox scored two more runs than the Yankees as the Sox sweep the Yankees in three.

Eovaldi was nothing like his previous start against the Rangers. He threw 5 IP 10 H 6 ER 3 Ks. His fastball was flat, and his secondary pitches were simply not clicking for him. His splitter and slider did not get the same bit as his last start, and he hurt Evo went it came to two-strikeout counts. He was handed the lead twice in the game (largely thanks to Rodriguez) but unable to put hitters away. The big blow was a two-run shot by Travis Shaw to tie the game up at 6-6. Brutal for the Yankees and Eovaldi.

Different format here. Since the game was back-and-forth, the offense sequence will be recapped:

The Red Sox scored first when Betts and Dustin Pedroia started it off with back-to-back singles. Betts scored off Xander Bogaerts’s sacrifice. 1-0 Red Sox.

The scoring for the Yankees started in the 3rd inning when Ellsbury smoked a double to score Ronald Torreyes, and Rodriguez hit a dinger to center. 3-1 Yankees.

The Sox reclaimed the lead off back-to-back singles by Pedroia and Bogaerts, and a walk by Ortiz to get the bases loaded. Ramirez hit a single up the middle to bring two home to tie the game. A batter later, Brock Holt singled to drive in Papi. 4-3 Red Sox.

With two runners on, Rodriguez hit a double to center to drive both in. Mark Teixeira immediately followed it up with an RBI single. 6-4 Yankees.

Next inning Eovaldi gave up the lead again off a Shaw two-run jack to right field. 6-6 tied up. The Red Sox got into the lead off a Christian Vasquez bomb over the Green Monster to make it 8-6 Red Sox. Vasquez took a Betances 97 mph fastball deep. That is the third home run Betances has given up in three games. So much for dominant bullpen.

Price did not have his stuff nor location for him. In the early innings, he was able to locate his fastball and changeup perfectly, but the damage was done when his missed his spots. Price’s final line: 7 IP 8 H 6 ER 1 BB 3 Ks.

Uneventful for the Yankees, but solid sweep by the Red Sox. Onto the next series for both teams.

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Previous Recaps:

New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays Series Recap

New York Yankees vs. Oakland Athletics Series Recap

New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros Series Recap

New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers Series Recap