The Boston Red Sox took a 2-1 lead in the American League Division Series in a big way Monday night, beating the New York Yankees 16-1 at Yankee Stadium.
Pressure? What pressure? In a must-win situation, the Boston Red Sox took care of business at Yankee Stadium Monday night by handing the New York Yankees their worst playoff loss ever.
It wasn’t quite like coming back down 3-0 back in 2004, but it was up there as one of the sweetest moments in this Red Sox-Yankees rivalry, especially if the AL East champs clinch the series in either Game 4 or Game 5.
The 16-1 thrashing of the Bronx Bombers in their home stadium not only showed the talent of this team, it showed that they are different than the previous two playoff teams.
More from Chowder and Champions
- 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
- 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
- MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
- 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
- Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win
They responded, oh boy, did they respond. One of the keys to victory was to get to Luis Severino, and they did just that highlighted with a seven-run fourth inning to put the game away.
Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, J.D. Martinez, the bottom of the order led by Brock Holt. They all showed up in this one. Most importantly, so did Nathan Eovaldi. who sparkled in a seven-inning one-run performance that just may have saved the Boston Red Sox season.
With the effort he put in, Red Sox manager Alex Cora now has a fresh bullpen to work with in both Game 4 and Game 5.
Overall, it was great to see his team go in to Yankee Stadium and reclaim home field advantage.
"“It was tough today coming here 1-1,” Cora said following the game. “The only thing we know is that, if we don’t win tomorrow, we have a Game 5. That’s the only thing we gain today. But we’ve got a chance to come here and put a good game and see what happens.”"
The Red Sox will look to clinch the series on Tuesday night behind Rick Porcello. Before we look forward, here are three players who shined in the 16-1 thumping of the New York Yankees in Game 4.
Benny was all ballgame
Andrew Benintendi was a player who entered the game with good history against Luis Severino. The Boston Red Sox left fielder was batting over .400 against the New York Yankees starter and continued that success on Monday night.
With the team already up 4-0 and bases loaded in the fourth, Benintendi broke the game open with a bases-clearing three-run double that catapulted the seven-run inning.
Benny says hello. #DoDamage pic.twitter.com/pSVGc2TqDq
— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 9, 2018
While the big hit came off reliever Lance Lynn, Andrew Benintendi was in the middle of the 2 runs the team scored in the third inning.
Following a Mookie Betts lead-off single, Benintendi followed with a bloop hit. Both players displayed aggressive baserunning take an extra base on the hit. It set the Red Sox up nicely in that inking. J.D. Martinez followed with a sacrifice fly and Xander Bogaerts drove Benintendi in with a single.
As a catalyst in both scoring innings, the young, rising star talked about his focus at the plate in that seven-run fourth.
"“He had just walked Mookie on four pitches, and he threw the first pitch; it was a ball. At that point you pretty much can bank on if it’s going to be a fastball, it’s going to be something to hit,” Benintendi said, as transcribed by MassLive. “I fouled it off. After that, I think I swung at the next pitch out of the zone, and I was trying to stay short and just put the ball in play and hopefully get something to the outfield and at the least get one run in. I hooked it down the right field line, and I was fortunate enough to keep it fair.”"
The team was fortunate as well and also fortunate to get the kind of offensive output that they got from this next player.
A Brock Star is born in the playoffs
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora is looking like a genius Tuesday morning. Not only did he make the right pitching decision, but by inserting utility man Brock Holt into the lineup, he gave his team a spark towards the bottom of the lineup that paid off in a major way.
With a four-hit night, Holt hit for the first cycle in MLB postseason history with a single, double, triple and homer late in the game during garbage time.
Overall, he went 4-for-6 with three runs scored and five RBIs. Much of that production came when the game was still in doubt. But hitting for the cycle was definitely special for a player who always finds a way to make the roster season after season.
https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1049504262919573509
Overall, it was a night he would never forget and a night where he helped his team take back control of the series.
"“To be able to do it on this stage and at this stadium and in the postseason is pretty special,” Hold said, via MLB. “Like I said, it was a pretty special night for me. But a pretty special night for all of us.”"
It was really, really special for the top star of the night.
The good Nathan Eovaldi showed up
While Andrew Benintendi, Brock Holt and the rest of the Boston Red Sox lineup went on an offensive explosion, Game 3 starter Nathan Eovaldi did his thing on the mound.
With his prior success against the New York Yankees, it was understandable why Alex Cora took a gamble in pushing him up to start the must-win game. In seven innings pitched, the power throwing pitcher allowed just one run on five hits with five strikeouts and no walks.
The no walks told the story of his control and command on the mound. The Yankees simply couldn’t muster anything against the pitcher who has a trend of pitching his best against the pinstripes.
With last night’s performance, Nathan Eovaldi now has a 0.39 ERA in 23 innings in a Boston Red Sox uniform against the Yankees. His previous success was the main reason Cora and the pitching staff felt Game 3 would be his time to shine.
They were right about that. He not only made Alex Cora look good, he also made Boston Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski look genius. Dombrowski acquired Eovaldi prior to the trade deadline from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for prospect Jalen Beeks. With his success against the Yankees, now we know why he did.