The Yankees, attempting to remain within hailing distance of the wild card, brought Hiroki Kuroda to the mound to match up against Boston’s Anthony Ranaudo. Kuroda, backed by a Brian McCann home run, showed his veteran savvy pitching one run ball for seven innings in picking up his tenth win in New York’s 5-1 win over the Red Sox.
The first inning brought an unusual double play. Two tossed out on a double steal.
A Derek Jeter single and Brett Gardner bunt single set up a one out situation with Carlos Beltran at bat. Christian Vazquez threw to second on an attempted double steal and Gardner applied the brakes. Jemile Weeks made a heads up toss to third to get a wandering Jeter and Brock Holt flipped back to second for the DP as Gardner attempted to complete his steal.
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In the second New York put their running game on hold.
A Mark Teixeira single up the middle almost beheaded Jersey Boy Ranaudo. McCann (4 hits) then unloaded one into the second deck in right to give New York a 2-0 lead and all the runs they would need.
In the fifth the Yankees scored their third run.
A McCann single, Stephen Drew walk and an Ichiro Suzuki single loaded it up with one out for Jacoby Ellsbury. Jake responded with a sacrifice fly and Kuroda had a bit more room to work with and promptly gave it back.
In the top of the sixth Weeks took one for the team and slumping Holt doubled him in for the Red Sox first run and only tally.
In the last of the sixth the book got closed on Ranaudo with 5.1 innings, three runs on six hits. Ranaudo (3-1) also walked two and whiffed one in his 90 pitch effort.
Kuroda, pitching effortlessly, went seven innings allowing a lone run on four hits while striking out eight with no walks. Boston’s offense was about as exciting as a spelling bee.
New York turned the ball over to their bullpen and the night was done.
For Boston Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts went hitless. Allen Craig took the collar with four strikeouts.
For the last game of the series Brandon Workman (1-8, 4.93) will start for Boston against Red Sox refugee Chris Capuano (2-3, 4.24).