The Yankees hit five home runs on the day as they beat the Red Sox 7-4.
From the first inning on, the Yankees' lineup made sure their would be no repeat of yesterday's run-scoring drought. Brian McCann hit two home runs and the Yankees hit five on the day. That combined with Hiroki Kuroda's decent effort on the mound gave the Yankees a 7-4 win over the Red Sox.
After Kuroda stranded two runners in the top of the first, the Yankees took the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Jacoby Ellsbury kept the inning alive with a bunt single with two outs. The next man up was Carlos Beltran, who smashed a John Lackey pitch over the right field wall. That gave the Yankees an early 2-0 lead.
The Red Sox were able to get those runs right back in the top of the second. After Xander Bogaerts reached on a liner that just went over Brian Roberts' glove, A.J. Pierzynski took a Kuroda pitch into the second deck to tie the game.
A couple innings later, the Yankees retook the lead with a couple home runs. McCann led off the bottom of the fourth by taking a Lackey pitch into the second deck to give the Yankees the lead again. The next man to come to the plate was Alfonso Soriano. He too homered. His was not a monster shot like the others, but it counted all the same. The Yankee lead was now back up to two runs.
Two innings later, the middle of the lineup increased the Yankees' lead. Beltran led off the inning with a double and came around to score when McCann launched another home run. The score was now 6-2.
In the top of the seventh, Kuroda started the inning by walking Jackie Bradley Jr. and Daniel Nava. He struck out Dustin Pedroia in the middle, but after the second walk, Kuroda's day was done. It wasn't the prettiest effort from Kuroda but it was solid. He went 6.1 innings allowing four runs (only two of which came with Kuroda on the mound, more on that in a second) on six hits and three walks.
Matt Thornton came in to face David Ortiz. He struck out Ortiz but was then left in to face Mike Napoli. Napoli was hit by a pitch to load the bases. That brought Mike Carp to the plate. Carp singled through the shift to score two runs to make the score 6-4. That was it for Thornton and Dellin Betances came in. Betances got the count to 0-2 and on the third pitch Carp tried to steal second and was thrown out by McCann to end the inning.
After the Yankees stranded two in the bottom of the seventh, Adam Warren came in for to pitch the top of the eighth. He pitched a 1-2-3 inning, striking out two.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Yankees added to their lead thanks to a long Kelly Johnson home run that went into Monument Park. Yangervis Solarte then singled, followed by a Dean Anna double. The Red Sox asked to review the double, as it looked like Anna's foot may have come off the bag while the tag was being applied. Despite Anna looking pretty clearly out, the umpires upheld the call. That missed call wouldn't amount to anything, however, as neither Brett Gardner or Roberts could bring home the runners.
Shawn Kelley came in to pitch the ninth. Kelly pitched a 1-2-3 inning to finish off the game and give the Yankees a 7-4 win.
The series finale against the Red Sox is tomorrow night at 8:05 eastern. Ivan Nova will get the start for the Yankees, while Felix Doubront will go for the Red Sox.