Yankees, Betances Struggles Again As Red Sox Win 8-7- Sweep Series

On a cold and miserable night in Boston, the Yankees offense actually woke up, but for the fifth straight game,it ended with a loss, as the Red Sox finished off the Bombers 8-7 on Sunday night.  After the sweep to their division rivals, the Yankees record stands at a disappointing 8-15, in the midst of 5 game-losing streak and sole possession of the cellar in the AL East.

At several points in the game, the Yankees-brace yourself had the lead!  However, starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi struggled in five innings, giving up 10 H, 6R, 3K, and 3BB on 99 pitches.

In the first inning, the Yankees had chances, but with one out, center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury broke home after a Alex Rodriguez dribbler up the third case line.  The throw was home with more than enough time and Ellsbury’s base running had killed the threat.

With the score 1-0 in the third inning, Ellsbury (2-4 .247) doubled for the second time, which scored Torreyes to even the score at 1.  The next batter was designated hitter Alex Rodriguez,who drilled a 2-run home run over the right corner of the Green Monster to give the Yankees a 3-1 lead.  But, in the bottom of the inning, Boston battled back with a Hanley Ramirez single up the middle, which scored to once again tie the game at 3.  Third-baseman Travis Shaw singled up the middle and David Oritz managed to touch home plate before Hanley Ramriez was tagged out.  Yankee manager Joe Girardi challenged the run, but the umpire’s decision was upheld.

Alex Rodriguez  again did damage to Red Sox pitcher David Price, who went seven innings, surrendering 8 H, 6R, with an elevated season ERA of 6.14, when he hit a long two-run double that gave the Yankees a 6-4 lead.  But again, Eovaldi could not hold the lead, as he allowed a 2-run home run to third baseman Travis Shaw to knot it at 6-6.

In the 7th inning, A-Rod waltzed to the plate.  That’s when Sox manager John Farrell walked out to the mound to presumably take Price out, however he elected to leave the left-hander in there and it paid off as Rodriguez grounded out to second baseman Dustin Pedroria playing on the left side in a shift.

But, the biggest blow was off the bat Sox catcher Christian Vazquez as he smacked a Dellin Betances pitch for a 2-run homer run that would give Boston the eventual win.  For the second time in 3 games, Betances gave up a crucial dinger that would end up dooming the Bombers.

This is the worst start for the Yankees since 1991.