Yankees Recap: Tempers Flare as Yankees Sweep Red Sox at Fenway

For the second straight week the New York Yankees played on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, and despite John Kruk and Curt Schilling‘s best efforts at critiquing the Yanks, they wouldn’t disappoint. It was a prime-time matchup that featured Adam Warren (1-1, 4.78 ERA) v. Joe Kelley (1-0, 5.72 ERA).

The Yankees got on the board early, as Mark Teixeira hit a two run home run that plated both him and Brett Gardner in the top of the first. It was Teixeira’s ninth home run and 22nd RBI of the season.

In the top of the third both Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran hit a pair of doubles that extended the Yankees lead to 5-0.

Three innings later Brett Gardner hit a three-run homer that scored Didi Gregorius and Jacoby Ellsbury, putting the Yankees up 8-0.

Just when it looked as if the Red Sox were down for the count, they rallied back with a five run sixth-inning on a David Ortiz double, Pablo Sandoval single and a two-run homer from Mike Napoli. Adam Warren was charged with four of the five earned runs as Esmil Rogers gave up the home run to Mike Napoli when he came on in relief of Warren.

Things got a bit interesting in the sixth when Adam Warren lost control of a fastball that ran in and hit Hanley Ramirez in the thigh. Despite the score being 8-1 Yankees at that point, Hanley Ramirez and co. were given the notion that Warren actually plunked him on purpose, which makes absolutely no sense. Ramirez immediately stared back at Warren and walked to first base after mustering some uncanny words to Warren.

In typical Yankees-Red Sox fashion, the Red Sox retaliated in the the top of the eighth by plunking Jacoby Ellsbury in the mid-section. Both benches were issued a warning, but thankfully that was the end of it.

The Yankees bullpen regrouped after the sixth, and used Justin Wilson to get David Ortiz out to end the bottom of the seventh on a line out to center and David Carpenter to get Mike Napoli out on an inning-ending double play in the eighth.

Andrew Miller came on to face his former team in the bottom of the ninth. He issued a lead-off walk to Allen Craig, but managed to get Xavier Bogaerts and Blake Swihart to strike out for the first two outs of the inning. Mookie Betts earned a walk in the next at-bat, and with two outs and two on, Dustin Pedroia reached first base on a throwing error by Chase Headley on a ground ball to third. Fortunately, Miller was able to get David Ortiz to line-out to center field with the bases loaded for the third and final out of the ball game, earning his ninth save in as many opportunities.

With this win the Yankees swept the Boston Red Sox for the first time at Fenway Park since their five game sweep in 2006, but more importantly they improved their record to 16-9 and now have a 3.5 game lead on the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the A.L. East.

A few quick pointers after tonight’s game;

Didi Gregorious has reached base safely in seven of his last eight games.. how’s Shane Greene doing?

Also, Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury combined for six hits with four runs three RBIs and one walk.

The Yankees, who are now 13-3 in their last 16 games will head north to begin a three game set with the Toronto Blue Jays starting tomorrow night at 7:07 pm.

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