The Boston Red Sox rolled to a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in the opener of a four-game series at Yankee Stadium, extending their winning streak against their rivals to six and moving within half a game of the Yankees for the top wild-card spot. Both teams had adjusted their rosters since their June meeting, but the result was familiar: Boston came away with the win.
Brayan Bello is set to start Friday night in the middle game of the series, aiming for his 10th win of the season. In his last outing, he worked 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits as the Red Sox beat the Marlins 7-5. The Yankees will counter with left-hander Max Fried, who has hit a rough patch recently, going 2-3 with a 7.20 ERA over his past six outings. He allowed a season-high seven runs in five-plus innings against the Cardinals in his previous start, though he still earned a decision in a 12-8 win.
The game also marked a rematch of the June 15 meeting in which Bello outshined Fried, throwing seven scoreless innings in a 2-0 win as the Sox completed a three-game sweep. That performance came hours before Boston traded away Rafael Devers, a development that overshadowed the on-field result.
In a separate development, Jhostynxon Garcia was in the lineup for his major league debut, starting in center field and batting fifth as Boston continued to mix in youngsters as the season progresses.
Key numbers and context: Bello owns a 9-6 record with a 3.23 ERA this season, while Fried sits at 13-5 with a 3.26 ERA. Since the start of the 2021 season, 49 of the 71 games between the Sox and Yankees have been decided by three or fewer runs, with Boston holding a 37-34 edge in those tight decisions.
Notes from the day highlighted a few players’ recent trends and the ongoing competition between the teams. The series continues tonight with a lot at stake for both clubs as they chase a pivotal spot in the postseason picture.
What to watch going forward:
– Bello’s ability to build on this start against a potent Yankees lineup will be crucial as Boston tries to keep pace in the crowded wild-card race.
– Fried’s recent struggles vs. the Red Sox will be under the microscope; how he adjusts in the rematch could dictate the series’ momentum.
– Garcia’s MLB debut adds another layer of youth movement to Boston’s roster as they evaluate future rotations and outfield options.
– The series could tighten the wild-card chase, making each game in this four-game set meaningful down the stretch for both teams.