Red Sox Wrap: Boston Defeats Yankees In Thrilling Slugfest Battle

BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox got back on track with a wild 9-7 victory over the New York Yankees to open up their three-game series at Fenway Park on Friday night.

With the victory, the Red Sox improved to 55-47 while the Yankees fell to 60-45.

Check out the full box score here.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
Boston needed to get back on track following its 1-5 road trip coming out of the All-Star break, and there's no better way to slice into the American League East standings than a weekend clash with the second-place Yankees, right?

Well, while this was the case, it did require some epic late-game theatrics.

The Red Sox entered the weekend set trailing second-place New York by only 4 1/2 games, giving the team a picture-perfect opportunity to gain some ground and restore its pre-All-Star Game position -- Boston was third in the AL wild-card standings to close out the first half. Of course, taking down a Yankees team that, like the Red Sox, is also on a mission to prove themselves this season, isn't easy by any stretch.

Right-handed reliever Zack Kelly and the Red Sox discovered that the hard way.

In the seventh inning, six-time All-Star slugger Aaron Judge stepped up to the plate with runners on first and second base, and crushed a 470-foot three-run home run to put the Yankees ahead after trailing Boston, 4-3. The very next hitter, New York catcher Austin Wells, got the best of Kelly, too, by going 395 feet to right field with a solo home run, giving the Yankees a 7-4 advantage over the Red Sox.

As daunting as a sight as New York's rally was, especially with a roaring crowd of Yankees fans erupting in the Fenway Park stands, Boston refused to give in. The Red Sox mustered up a timely go-ahead rally of their own in the eighth inning, courtesy of Wilyer Abreu's game-tying double and Masataka Yoshida's two-RBI single, giving Boston just enough breathing room to pull away.

STARS OF THE GAME
-- Yoshida delivered the game-deciding base hit to flip the script on New York. The 31-year-old went 1-for-3 at the plate with the at-bat of the night.

-- Red Sox rookie Ceddanne Rafaela responded to the four-run Yankees rally in the seventh inning by crushing a two-run moon shot of his own, 398 feet over the Green Monster. Rafaela extended his home run total to 12, finishing the game by going 2-for-4 at the plate.

-- Judge led the Yankees with a three-RBI night, giving Red Sox's bullpen plenty of problems and perhaps Boston's front office something to consider before the MLB trade deadline.

ON DECK AT NESN
The Red Sox will continue their rival series with the Yankees on Saturday night, and that game will be aired on FOX Sports. First pitch from Fenway Park is set for 7:15 p.m. ET. Boston won't return to the NESN airwaves until Monday night when the team hosts the Seattle Mariners to begin a three-game set.