Red Sox secure narrow victory over Yankees at Yankee Stadium
Willson Contreras’ fifth-inning home run proves decisive as Sonny Gray earns win for Boston
The Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Yankees 5-3 at Yankee Stadium on Friday night, marking the first time the franchise has played a game at the venue wearing their Boston uniform. The victory was secured by a two-run home run from Willson Contreras in the fifth inning, which provided the decisive margin of victory for the visiting club.
Contreras, who had previously played three games at Yankee Stadium before joining the Red Sox, compiled a .100/.250/.100 slash line in 12 plate appearances during those earlier outings. Against the Yankees specifically at Fenway Park this season, he had batted 1-for-11. However, with two outs in the fifth inning, he capitalised on a changeup from Yankees starter Ryan Weathers, sending the ball into the left-field corner to extend Boston’s lead.
Weathers endured one of his most difficult starts of the season, allowing five runs and seven hits over six innings. He had previously surrendered a fourth-inning home run to Andruw Monasterio, which had put the Red Sox ahead 3-1. The loss leaves the Yankees 1.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East standings, with the Rays holding a 37-26 record following their own 6-0 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday.
Red Sox pitcher Sonny Gray earned the win, allowing three runs and eight hits over 6 1/3 innings. The 36-year-old veteran had not faced the Yankees since pitching for the St Louis Cardinals in August last year, a start in which he allowed six runs and nine hits in five innings. Gray’s career ERA at Yankee Stadium stands at 6.07 across 22 games, but he has demonstrated recent form by allowing three or fewer runs in each of his past seven starts.
For the Yankees, Ben Rice hit his 18th home run of the season, while Trent Grisham added his eighth. Outfielder Spencer Jones went 3-for-3 in his first game playing right field since being recalled from Triple-A to replace the injured Aaron Judge. Despite the offensive contributions, the defeat drops the Yankees to 37-26, while the Red Sox remain in last place in the division with a 27-35 record.
