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BOSTON — Alex Verdugo hit a tie single and a two-run winning single in the eighth inning that capped a three-run tenth and lifted the Boston Red Sox 6-5 over the New York Yankees on Saturday night.
Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo had given the Yankees a 5-3 lead with RBI doubles in Jake Diekman’s 10th.
“To keep fighting back and forth, it just felt like one of those games that we had to be in,” Verdugo said. “Tonight is up there (to me), obvious how good the Yankees were and how the 10th inning went and came down two runs.”
Jeter Downs, a 23-year-old rookie infielder named for former Yankees captain Derek Jeter, hit a run-scoring single in the bottom half against Wandy Peralta (2-2) for his first major league hit.
Third baseman Josh Donaldson edged out Xander Bogaert’s potential double-play grounder on the transfer, only getting one out at first.
With runners in second and third and two outs, Verdugo laid a single to the right that hit Rob Refsnyder and Downs who slid home headfirst before Joey Gallo’s throw. Downs was in the starting lineup for Triple-A Worcester early Saturday before being scraped and called up.
“I’m pretty dazed right now,” Downs said. “About an hour before the game they told me that they scratch because there is a chance (I could be called up).”
Verdugo got a chance to see the rookie score.
“I hit it and I knew the first run was in and I was ‘okay’ and I saw them waving on the second. He was caught by his teammates celebrating. “I tried to chase after them a bit and not catch them too easily.”
Verdugo had leveled the score 3-3 with an eighth inning single from Clay Holmes, who made a save for the second time in 18 chances.
“He loves the drama,” said Boston aide Tanner Houck of the two Verdugo hits. “He’s very out there, a very energetic person. If there was one person who could do that, I figured it would definitely be Alex.”
Refsnyder, a former Yankee, added a solo homer for the Red Sox, who improved to just 10-20 against AL East rivals.
Aaron Hicks hit a solo homer and Rizzo, returning after missing four games with a bad back, had two RBI doubles.
“First with Clay, he was knocked through the hole by a ground ball, a good shot from Verdugo,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Wandy fell behind and Verdugo put on a very good swing.”
Boston halted a four-game tumble and is looking to avoid falling 0-9 in series against rivals AL East in Sunday night’s four-game series finals. New York’s division lead was cut to 15 games ahead of the second-placed Red Sox.
On a lively night at Fenway Park, with fans often singing for both teams, New York took a 3-1 lead in game six against Ryan Brasier when Rizzo doubled just under the glove of midfielder Jarren Duran. Donaldson added an RBI single.
Refsnyder sent his sixth-inning shot over a billboard above the Green Monster.
New York starter Jordan Montgomery gave up two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Hicks’ decisive shot ricocheted off a wall separating the bullpens.
hey rook
Boston started a rookie pitcher for the fourth straight year. Cutter Crawford gave up one run and four hits in five innings, knocked out six and walked two.
STRIP BROKEN
Red Sox C Kevin Plawecki threw out Kyle Higashioka when he tried to steal after being unsuccessful against his first 15 baserunners this season and pointed to the Boston dugout after the game. New York had not been caught in his previous 16 attempts.
BACK TO BACK
Yankees SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa made consecutive great plays for the fourth, going deep in the hole to grab Bogaerts’ grounder before firing for the first. On the next play, he sliced in front of the second base bag and knocked out Verdugo after grabbing his grounder.
TRAINING ROOM
Yankees: RHP Domingo Germán (right shoulder impingement, injured since spring practice) pitched four scoreless innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Boone said the team will discuss its activation in the next 24 to 48 hours.
Red Sox: Manager Alex Cora said All-Star 3B Rafael Devers will be out until at least Monday with back pain. “He’s been struggling with this for a while. We have to be smart,” Cora said.
SOX ROSTER SHUFFLE
RHP Connor Seabold went on the 15 day IL with a distorted right forearm and INF/OF Christian Arroyo was put on the 10 day IL with a distorted left groin. The Red Sox nominated RHP Michael Feliz for the job. RHP Kaleb Ort was selected by Triple-A Worcester, and Downs and RHP Phillips Valdez were recalled from there.
NEXT
Yankees RHP Jameson Taillon (9-2, 3.63 ERA) is scheduled to start Sunday night’s series finals against Red Sox RHP Nick Pivetta (8-6, 3.68), who gave up a season-high seven runs in his last start.
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