ICYMI: New York Yankees Recap: Big Papi Socks Betances, Yankees

David Ortiz took Dellin Betances deep with a runner on and one out in the eighth inning Friday night to break a 2-2 tie, as the Red Sox rallied for a 4-2 win over the Yankees. In what is frighteningly becoming the norm for the Yankees, 10 of the first 20 batters reached base against Boston’s Henry Owens, but New York was only able to plate two runs.

Apr 29, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) walks off the mound after pitching during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Both Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner reached base safely to lead off the game, but Carlos Beltran grounded into a double play and Mark Teixeira flew out to end the rally. The Yankees got on the board in the second, though, with Alex Rodriguez‘s fourth homer, as he continues to awaken from his early season struggles following some time off due to an oblique injury. They tacked on their second run in the fifth on an RBI single by Gardner.

The Yanks had Masahiro Tanaka on the mound, and for much of the night he looked like every bit the ace the team needs him to be. After six innings of three-hit ball, Tanaka showed signs of fatigue in the seventh as he left some pitches up in the zone. Travis Shaw and Brock Holt had back-to-back singles before Jackie Bradley, Jr. doubled off the Green Monster to tie the game, and snatch what seemed like a sure-fire victory from Tanaka’s hands. In 6.2 innings, Tanaka (no decision) allowed two runs on six hits with no walks and five strikeouts.

Betances has been as good as any reliever in baseball this year, having struck out 23 batters in 10 innings prior to Friday. But after coming in to relieve Tanaka in the seventh, Betances allowed Xander Bogaerts to reach on a single in the eighth before hanging a first-pitch curveball to Ortiz that ended up over the Monster.

The Yankees went down 1-2-3 in the ninth against Craig Kimbrel.

Apr 16, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Chase Headley (12) walks to the dugout after grounding out to end the game against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium. The Seattle Mariners defeated the New York Yankees 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /

Owens started his second game of the season for the Red Sox and struggled with his control, throwing just 49 of his 92 pitches for strikes. As has been the case for much of the season, the Bombers were able to put runners on base, but ultimately were unsuccessful in driving them in. In the second inning, Starlin Castro tripled but was then thrown out trying to score on a short fly ball to left off the bat of Chase Headley. After a leadoff single by Castro in the fifth, Headley grounded into a double play. The third baseman is now 1 for his last 20. At what point does his play put him on the bench? In total, the Yankees left 10 men on base; that statistic is beginning to define what this team is.

The Yanks and Sox are back at it on Saturday night with first pitch slated for 7:05. The Yankees will send Michael Pineda (1-2, 6.95) to the mound.

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