London Series: Yankees win ridiculous game
In a soccer stadium that was transferred into a baseball stadium, the Boston Red Sox “hosted” the New York Yankees. For the first time in the history of MLB, the fiercest rivalry in baseball set foot in Europe. It turned out to be a slugfest with a ridiculous final score of 17-13 in the favor of the Yankees.
After the top of the first inning in which the Yankees had taken a 6-0 lead and it looked like the Bronx Bombers would have an easy night. But in the bottom of the same inning, the Red Sox scored as many runs. Sure it happens that pitchers have an off day and are tabbed for six runs but both pitchers? I really think that both teams were still dealing with a jetlag as both had only a day or two to adapt to the new time zone. Masahiro Tanaka can have his off days but he never had a poor outing like this.
Form the Dutch point of view, with the Yankees leading 1-0, Didi Gregorius came through with a double to center field and drove in two runs. Three more runs were scored and the Yankees batted around. But the Red Sox couldn’t let the Yankees top them as they also scored six runs. Also from the Dutch point of view, Xander Bogaerts scored Boston’s second run on Brock Holt’s single after he had gotten on base on a walk.
After the Yankees scored twice in the third, they had another offensive outburst in the fourth as they batted around again and scored six more runs. Didi Gregorius drew a walk and scored on DJ LeMahieu’s double to left field.
In the fifth inning, Didi Gregorius would drive in one of three runs the Yankees would score. From there the Yankees’ offense stalled. But the Red Sox on the other hand, got back in the game.
In the bottom of the sixth, Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a solo shot that cleared the left field fence. One inning later, the Red Sox had their offensive outburst. Xander Bogaerts drew a walk on a wild pitch by Tommy Kahnle that allowed Mookie Betts to score one of six runs. As J.D. Martinex doubled to right field, Xander Bogaerts apparently strained a muscle and couldn’t get any further than third base, where he would normally score from first base on a double. The Red Sox’ shortstop was pulled after the seventh and replaced by Eduardo Núñes.
Didi Gregorius went 2 for 5, raising his batting average to .281. He drove in three runs and scored thrice. Xander Bogaerts went 1 for 3, drawing two walks and scoring one run.
Didi was the initiator of the game-ending double play.
https://twitter.com/Dutch_ball/status/1145271973603401728
Here are the highlights of the game: