Boston Red Sox: 10 Best moments of 2018 season
By Justin Keene
6. Red Sox complete 4 game sweep of Yankees in August
In the first week of August, the Boston Red Sox welcomed the rival Yankees into Fenway for a crucial 4 game series. Heading into this series, the Yankees were 5.5 games back of Boston in the AL East, putting some pressure on the Red Sox. Well, Boston completely dominated New York the whole weekend, sweeping the Yankees out-of-town, outscoring them 28-13 and most importantly, burying the Yankees in the division, expanding the lead to 9.5 games.
In the first game of the series, Steve Pearce lit up the scoreboard bashing 3 Home runs and driving in 6 in the Red Sox 15-7 win. Boston was all over the Yankee bullpen, tagging them for 13 runs, and 16 hits in 5 innings of work. Mookie Betts was also 4-4 with 3 runs, 2 walks and 1 RBI.
Game 2 of this 4 game series was all Red Sox yet again. Rick Porcello pitched a complete game on only 86 pitches. The Red Sox righty went the full 9, striking out 9 and only giving up 1 hit, a solo shot to Miguel Andujar in the top of the third inning. Steve Pearce continued his power surge, blasting a 2 run home run in the bottom of the first inning, jumping on Luis Severino early. This game was all Porcello, as this was his only complete game of the 2018 campaign, picking up his 14th win along the way, as the Red Sox won 4-1.
In Game 3 of this weekend series, Red Sox starting pitching was dominant yet again. Nathan Eovaldi went 8 scoreless innings, giving up 3 hits , walking only 1 and fanning 4. The Red Sox bats went deep yet again, as Mitch Moreland got the scoring started in the 1st with a 2 run home run, followed by a solo shot from J.D. Martinez in the 4th. This game would have been a shutout if not for Craig Kimbrel allowing a run in the top of the 9th inning. The closer could hold on and help his team secure a victory.
The last game of the weekend series came on Sunday, August 5. The starting pitching matchup was David Price vs Masahiro Tanaka. Price threw 6 solid innings but had to come out in the top of the 7th after allowing the first two Yankees to reach. Heath Hembree came in, and after a throwing error by Xander Bogearts, the Yankees claimed a 2-1 lead. Hembree then gave up an RBI single to Giancarlo Stanton and was then pulled for Ryan Brasier.
Brasier picked up the final two outs of the inning, but it cost the Boston Red Sox another run, giving the Yankees a 4-1 lead. Heading into the 9th inning, New York still carried a 4-1 lead with closer Aroldis Chapman on the mound. After getting two outs, and 2 walks, Steve Pearce drew a walk to load the bases. J.D. Martinez delivered a 2 run single, bringing the Red Sox within 1 run. Xander Bogearts hit a little dribbler to third, and after a throwing error from Andujar, the Red Sox tied the game up 4-4 as the rubber match went to extra innings.
After Matt Barnes pitched a 1-2-3 top of the 10th, the Red Sox bats looked to pick up where they left off. The Yankees sent Jonathan Holder to the mound. Holder picked up 2 quick outs, but then Sandy Leon hit a single, giving the Red Sox life. Leon then took second base on a wild pitch. With first base open, the Yankees intentionally walked Mookie Betts.
Tony Renda was then called for the pinch runner for Leon, as speed was everything in this scenario. Red Sox out fielder Andrew Benintendi then hit a ball to center field, scoring Renda and completing the comeback win, and sweeping the Yankees in the process. This weekend series was huge, as the Red Sox never really looked over their shoulder again for the rest of the season, as they stung the hearts of the Yankees with a 4 game sweep.