There\u2019s still a month of baseball left, but it\u2019s possible the events that transpired in the fifth inning on Sunday could swing the AL Wild Card race decisively in New York\u2019s favor.<\/p>\n
With the game scoreless and a runner at first, Jazz Chisholm hit a sinking line drive to center field. Ceddanne Rafaela made what appeared to be a fantastic diving catch, but first base umpire Edwin Moscoso ruled that the ball hit the ground before Rafaela could complete the grab, and that decision wound up standing upon replay review.<\/p>\n
Instead of potentially converting a double play, things snowballed and the Red Sox wound up conceding five runs in the inning.<\/p>\n
The Yankees went on to win 16-1, and in doing so they captured more than just the weekend series victory.<\/p>\n
With Sunday\u2019s win the Yankees clinched the season series 7-6, ensuring that if they finish tied in the standings with the Red Sox they would own the tiebreaker. That means Sunday\u2019s loss was effectively a three-game swing for the Red Sox, who could have moved within two games of the Yankees but instead will have to make up five games of ground in September if they hope to jump New York and host a playoff series.<\/p>\n
Following the game the Red Sox expressed frustration about the way Sunday\u2019s game turned in the fifth.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t even have to watch it, I know I made the catch,\u201d Rafaela told reporters in New York postgame. \u201cI know when a ball drops and a ball don\u2019t drop, and I know I made the catch.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody was surprised about that call,\u201d Red Sox starter Ranger Suarez told reporters in New York via interpreter Carlos Villoria Ben\u00edtez. \u201cThat\u2019s a game-changing play and after that everything changed.\u201d<\/p>\n
One silver lining for the Red Sox is they got two key players back from injury, and both looked good in their return.<\/p>\n
Roman Anthony went 2 for 4 in his first game since May 4, including a ground rule double to lead off the game in his first at bat back. Trevor Story went 2 for 3 in his return, including a double in the top of the eighth.<\/p>\n
Through the first five innings those two were the only Red Sox hitters who were able to touch Yankees starter Will Warren.<\/p>\n
Suarez pitched well through the first four innings himself, but after Rafaela\u2019s near-catch he came unglued. The Yankees sent nine men to the plate, and following Chisholm\u2019s hit Ali Sanchez moved the runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, setting the table for Paul Goldschmidt to put the Yankees ahead with a weakly hit two-run single up the middle.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s another one of those plays where you\u2019re kind of at the mercy of what they call on the field, which stinks,\u201d said Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy. \u201cBecause if they call him out, and I do think he caught the ball, they\u2019re probably going to go to review and be unable to overturn it.\u201d<\/p>\n
If things ended there it might not have been a disaster, but then Suarez allowed a three-run home run to Heliot Ramos, which felt in the moment like a back-breaker.<\/p>\n
Suarez wound up being charged with six runs over 5 1\/3 innings, the last coming on a sacrifice fly by Austin Wells in the sixth off Greg Weissert that scored one of Suarez\u2019s inherited runners.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this stage of the season you have to limit damage, that\u2019s one of the things you have to do to keep the team in the game and give the boys an opportunity come back in the game,\u201d Suarez said. \u201cI feel like today this game was on me, I didn\u2019t give the opportunity to the boys to win the game today.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Yankees added an RBI single by Amed Rosario in the seventh and erupted for nine runs in the eighth, including on back-to-back home runs by Austin Wells and Goldschmidt before teeing off on Andruw Monasterio when the infielder took the mound.<\/p>\n
But in truth, the way Boston\u2019s bats were hitting it may not have mattered even if the pitching hadn\u2019t laid an egg.<\/p>\n
Warren smothered the Red Sox over seven-plus dominant innings, allowing one run on six hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. Boston\u2019s only real scoring chance early came in the first when Anthony doubled and Wilyer Abreu walked, but Warren struck out Willson Contreras and Adley Rutschman to keep Boston off the board.<\/p>\n
The Red Sox didn\u2019t have another runner reach second base until the sixth inning, and they didn\u2019t finally score until the game was already well out of reach. Story led off the eighth with a double and Nick Sogard drove him in with an RBI single, but that was as close as Boston got.<\/p>\n
Now the Red Sox (74-63) have a month to get their offense back on track before a likely rematch with the Yankees (78-59) in October, which barring a big September surge will probably be right back at Yankee Stadium again.<\/p>\n
Rafaela shaken up<\/p>\n
While his near-catch was under review Rafaela was checked by the trainer after he appeared to tweak his neck or shoulder on the dive.<\/p>\n
Rafaela remained in the game, but he was uncharacteristically frustrated for the remainder of the inning, appearing at one point to shout at the first base umpire following Goldschmidt\u2019s go-ahead single and later holding up his glove after making a routine grab in center field.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was really mad in the moment,\u201d Rafaela said. \u201cI really wanted to help my pitcher there and I feel that changed the whole game, right there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gasper, Seigler optioned<\/p>\n
To clear space on the roster for the returning Anthony and Story, the Red Sox announced pregame that they\u2019d optioned Mickey Gasper and Anthony Seigler to Triple-A Worcester. Gasper had been white hot over the past two weeks since being called back up to the majors, hitting five home runs in 11 games, and Seigler has been a key contributor throughout Boston\u2019s two-month run of success.<\/p>\n
Upcoming starters<\/p>\n
The Red Sox announced Payton Tolle will start Monday\u2019s series opener against the Seattle Mariners, Patrick Sandoval will pitch Wednesday and Tuesday\u2019s starter remains to be determined. Sonny Gray would normally be in line to pitch that day, but Tracy told reporters pregame Sunday that they\u2019re still talking through who will start.<\/p>\n