Series Recap: Yankees Take Two of Three From Red Sox

Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Game 3

In the series finale, former Red Sox shortstop-turned-Yankees second baseman, Stephen Drew surpassed his run production over the weekend, than he had in his previous 18 home games at Fenway Park earlier this season. One of the newest Yankees put it on his former team–probably much sooner than the Red Sox had hoped, with a 2-for-4, 3 RBI night to give the Yankees a much-needed series victory on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.

Unfortunately for the Yankees, it wasn’t all good news, as starter David Phelps left the game after 2 innings and 5 earned runs allowed, with elbow inflammation. Chase Whitley, since being sent to the bullpen, hasn’t been much better, and that trend continued, giving up a 2-run bomb to David Ortiz, his 26th of the season. It wasn’t until Esmil Rogers, who the Yankees picked up off of the waiver wire from the Toronto Blue Jays, shut down the Red Sox, and recorded his first Yankees’ victory. Rogers threw 3 innings, allowing zero earned and striking out 3. Dellin Betances and David Robertson finished off the final two innings to preserve the Yankees’ comeback win, by the final of 8-7.

Brett Gardner continues to show his power stroke isn’t just exclusive to the Texas Rangers, as he blasted his 15th home run of the season, a career high, along with two other hits, as they were his only hits of the series. Carlos Beltran had a pair of hits, as his bat is finally heating up, and he is the middle-of-the-order presence the Yankees need him to be. Beltran is hitting .354 against the Red Sox in 2014.

David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia, the pair of the most familiar faces still remaining with the new look Red Sox, carried the offense for Boston. The duo went a combined 3-for-7 with 5 runs batted in. Boston starter Clay Buchholz‘s struggles continued Sunday night, allowing 7 earned runs in only 5 innings of work. That’s 18 earned runs in his last 16 innings of work.