There were no late-inning offensive heroics from the Boston Red Sox on Saturday, who fell in a tight one-run contest against the American League East-leading New York Yankees at Fenway Park.
Both lineups combined to collect 14 base hits, with Red Sox pitching holding the Yankees to just six of them.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora didn’t hesitate to tip his cap to Boston’s pitching — despite coming up short in the ninth inning with Yankees pushing across the game-winning run on base — acknowledging starting pitcher Kutter Crawford and reliever John Schreiber.
“(Crawford) was really good, really good,” Cora said told reporters. “Six innings, two runs. … Good mix of pitches. They hit some balls hard, we played some good defense behind him. But the kid, he understands and he watches the game and he makes adjustments. He watched Nate (Eovaldi) yesterday, kinda like the way he attacked the opposition. He was tremendous for us tonight.”
Schreiber, who recorded a two-out save against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, tossed two innings again on Saturday. Unfortunately for the Red Sox, the results weren’t replicated with the right-hander allowing the game-winning run while fielding a surprise bunt single from Yankees shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa — ultimately closing the door on the night.
“He was efficient,” Cora told reporters. “He was gonna be down tomorrow, so we went with him. … An infield single, a good safety squeeze, and that was it.”
Here are a few more notes from Saturday’s Red Sox-Yankees game:
— Crawford registered his fourth six-plus-inning start for the Red Sox on Saturday. The 26-year-old didn’t surpass the five-inning mark in any of his starts from April to June. The two hits allowed were also the fewest surrendered within his four outings this season in which the second-year righty went at least six innings on the hill.
— Catcher Reese McGuire, who hit his 10th double of the season on Saturday (2-for-3) against the Yankees, is now batting .500 with nine base hits in 18 at-bats as a member of the Red Sox.
— Red Sox relievers have allowed one run in their last three games (10 1/3 innings) against opposing offenses.
— Red Sox right-handed pitcher Michael Wacha, who hasn’t pitched since June 28, will take the ball for Boston in the rubber match, as announced by manager Cora following the contest.
— The Red Sox and Yankees will finish off their three-game series on Sunday. First pitch from Fenway Park is scheduled for 7:08 p.m. ET. Boston now stands at 5-7 against the division leaders this season.
