JA Happ won on his return to the Yankees’ rotation after being skipped a shift, Mike Ford produced three runs and New York defeated the Red Sox 4-2 on Sunday in their ninth straight win over Boston, their best streak against his staunchest rival in nearly 70 years.
Hours after second baseman DJ LeMahieu joined Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton on the disabled list, Ford led New York with an RBI single to center field in the first inning, then gave the Yankees a 4-1 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Mazza (0-1) in the third.
New York, the leader of the AL East, improved to 15-6 as the schedule passed the one-third point – the equivalent of 41-16 for an entire season and its best start since 2003. The Yankees are undefeated 9-0 at home for the first time since 1987 and are enjoying their best winning streak against Boston since defeating them 12 times in a row from April 16, 1952 to April 23, 1953. New York has won 20 of its last 24 home games against the Red Sox and 14 of 15 against Boston overall.
Boston has been outscored 67-31 during a seven-game slump to sink to the bottom of the AL at 6-16. The debacle equates to 19 consecutive losses in a normal season.
Happ (1-1) received one run and three hits in 5 2/3 innings in his first start at home this year, allowing Kevin Pillar’s home run deep left field in the third inning.
For the Yankees, Colombian Gio Urshela 4-1 with scored. Venezuelan Gleyber Torres 3-1 with career scored. The Dominican Gary Sánchez 4-1.
For the Red Sox, Puerto Rican Christian Vázquez 4-1 with scored. Venezuelan José Peraza 1-0. The Panamanian Jonathan Araúz and the Dominican Rafael Devers, both 3-0. AP (HN)