Roman Anthony Joins Red Sox-Yankees Rivalry: I Love It

It’s Roman Anthony’s world and we’re just living in it. The Boston Red Sox rookie cemented his place in the long-standing rivalry with the New York Yankees on Thursday with his two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning.

Celebrating the blast with a bat flip for the ages, Anthony’s fifth home run of the season gave Boston a 6-3 lead which closer Aroldis Chapman made sure would stand up. As a result, the Red Sox improved to 6-1 vs. the Yankees this year and moved within a half-game of the top stop in the American League Wild Card standings.

But let’s face it: the only thing people are talking about Friday is Anthony’s Yankee Stadium debut.

“Yeah, it’s probably what I imagined, and maybe even a little more,” said Anthony, according to MLB.com’s Ian Browne. “I love playing in an atmosphere. I love being booed. I love everything about it. We know the rivalry, and it was exciting.”

Anthony also had an RBI single in the sixth inning which tied the game at 3. He finished the night 2-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored.

“It’s the ability of not swinging at balls that gives you confidence,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora, per Browne. “He’s always in control. He works hard every single day. This kid, he wants to be the best out there. Today, we needed everything from him.”

Anthony and the Red Sox will try to keep the good times rolling Friday in the second game of the four-game series. And the rookie knows what’s at stake.

“Any win is huge at this point in the season,” Anthony said, according to Browne. “So to come here and take Game 1, we’d like to just build off that and come here (Friday) and try to handle business again.”