Red Sox News: Yankees series win, Triston Casas update, former draft pick passes away

The Boston Red Sox went from struggling against teams with winning records to beating the two best teams in MLB in consecutive series.

The Red Sox took the third and final game of their first series against the MLB-leading New York Yankees on June 16. They collected 14 hits and stole nine bases off New York's defense.

Kutter Crawford held the Yankees' bats to three runs on three hits, two of which were homers. He tore through the lineup for nine strikeouts, a season-high for the righty. Crawford has 17 strikeouts in his two most recent starts.

Reliever Zack Kelly was Boston's hero of the night. He got out of a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh to keep his squad in the game in, arguably, the biggest moment of the season so far.

Red Sox beat the Yankees and Phillies — the two best teams in MLB — in consecutive series

Triston Casas seemed in good spirits during the series against New York despite still being on the shelf for a few weeks.

The first baseman shared that he's progressing toward swinging a bat, the final step in his rib injury recovery before he's sent on a rehab assignment. He hasn't hit a ball yet because recoil from contact could aggravate his injury. After a few days of swinging with no pain, Casas will begin swinging fully in hopes to return to the lineup on July 2.

Red Sox injury updates on Triston Casas, Chris Martin, Romy González and Wilyer Abreu

The Red Sox also got positive injury updates on a few other players. Chris Martin, who was placed on the 15-day injured list due to anxiety, should join the team in Toronto to face the Blue Jays on June 18. Martin pitched a scoreless, hitless, one-inning rehab outing for Worcester on June 16.

Romy González, who was placed on the 10-day IL with a hamstring strain on May 31, will also join the Sox to face the Blue Jays. He went 6-for-12 over three games with the WooSox, which includes a three-RBI game on June 16.

The Red Sox expect Wilyer Abreu to play in their series against the Reds following their trip to Toronto. Abreu sprained his ankle walking down the Fenway Park dugout steps in May and he'll begin a two-game rehab assignment in Triple-A on Tuesday.

Former Red Sox draft pick and big leaguer Mike Brumley dies at 61

Former Red Sox draft pick Mike Brumley died in a car accident on June 15. Brumley was 61 years old.

Boston drafted Brumley in the second round of the 1983 MLB draft. His MLB debut came in 1987 with the Cubs, but he later returned to the Red Sox organization and played 65 games between 1991-92. He also played for the Tigers, Mariners, Astros and A's and coached in the Braves organization.

Brumley served as a mentor and role model to Braves third baseman Austin Riley, who made a statement about the former big-leaguer after Atlanta's June 16 matchup with the Rays.

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