No Lack Of Power Against Lackey And Red Sox

Apr 12, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees catcher Brian McCann (34) hits a two-run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the sixth inning of a game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Today was a nice one for Yankees’ hitters as they clubbed five home runs as the Yankees outslugged the Red Sox in a 7-4 win, earning at least a split of this four-game series.

After a two-out single by Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran began the Yankees’ scoring with a long, two-run home run into the right field bleachers in the bottom of the first inning.

The Red Sox tied the game in the top of the second when AJ Pierzynski hit a two-run bomb of his own into the second deck off of Hiroki Kuroda. This wouldn’t be a tie game for very long.

Brian McCann broke out of his slump in a huge way, smashing two home runs off of Red Sox starter John Lackey, who gave up four homers in one game for the first time in his career. The first came on the first pitch of the fourth inning and the very next batter, Alfonso Soriano,  crushed an opposite field shot that barely cleared the right-center field wall to increase the Yankees lead to 4-2.

The game remained 4-2 into the bottom of the sixth, but after a booming double by Carlos Beltran Brian McCann struck again with a two-run home run into the Yankees bullpen for his second of the day. The Yankees now had a 6-2 lead. He finished 2-4 with two home runs and three RBIs.

Hiroki Kuroda pitched into the seventh, but after walking Jackie Bradley Jr., striking out Dustin Pedroia, and walking Daniel Nava his day was done as lefty reliever Matt Thornton entered the game for the dangerous David Ortiz. Thornton successfully fanned Ortiz, but during the at-bat, Bradley Jr. and Nava converted a double-steal to put runners on second and third. The next batter, Mike Napoli, was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

The Yankees decided to implement a shift for the lefty hitting Mike Carp, moving three of their four infielders to the second base side of the field. This would prove to be a mistake, as Carp grounded a single into left field, allowing two runs to score and Napoli to move to third base. Hard throwing righty Delin Betances relieved Thornton to face Xander Bogaerts and on the third pitch of the at-bat, McCann gunned down Carp at second base to end the inning.

With one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, Kelly Johnson slugged a long, solo home run to dead center field to give the Yankees some insurance.

That same inning, after a Yangervis Solarte single (his second of the day), Dean Anna hit a bullet down the right field line and made it to second base on a close play. After seeing a replay, it appeared that while standing up at the end of his slide, he took his foot off of the base while Bogaerts still had his glove on Anna’s body.

Red Sox manager John Farrell challenged the play, but curiously, the call was upheld. Major League Baseball later acknowledged that they didn’t have a clear view of the play and that Anna was indeed tagged with his foot off the base.

Boston managed to escape further trouble, but Yankees relievers Shawn Kelley shut the door the next inning.

Notes: Since the current ownership group purchased the Red Sox in 2001, they have played the Yankees 224 times. The two team’s records? 112-112!