Max Fried's velocity surge powers Yankees to 5-3 win over Red Sox

BOSTON — Max Fried turned up the heat at Fenway Park, using a season-high surge in velocity to help the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 5-3 on Saturday and pick up his MLB-leading 17th win.

Fried opened the game with a pair of 99 mph four-seam fastballs that produced early strikeouts, fanning Alex Bregman in the first and Ceddanne Rafaela in the second. He said adrenaline and feeling good physically were the reasons for the midseason jump in speed, noting that four of his six fastest pitches this season came in the outing.

Although Fried allowed a season-high nine hits and was not sharp at times, he settled in and worked 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball. The left-hander left with the lead and earned the victory as the Yankees provided early offense and bullpen support down the stretch.

Fried's second-inning escape featured a combination of pitching and defense. After walking the leadoff man, Fried surrendered a single to Nick Sogard, but Jasson Domínguez fielded the ball in left and fired to third to double off Nate Eaton, helping strand runners and limit the damage.

Manager Aaron Boone praised Fried's stuff and Fenway's effect on velocity. "I thought his stuff was really good," Boone said. "He's 97-98 typically when he steps on a four-seam. Today he was 98-99. Fenway in September will do that to you."

The Yankees struck early, and that support allowed Fried to attack more aggressively. New York's win extended the team's run of success this season and followed a clinch of the franchise's 33rd straight winning season the night before — a streak that trails only the club's 1926-64 run across the four major sports in franchise history.

"I think it says we're playing meaningful baseball year in and year out, especially this time of year," Boone said. "Obviously our goal every year is to get into the postseason and go win a World Series. But the fact that there's been that level of consistency ... it's a pretty remarkable feat."

Offensively, José Caballero started at shortstop for a fourth straight game and finished 1-for-4 with a double. Anthony Volpe, recovering from a cortisone injection in his left shoulder received earlier in the week, took ground balls before the game as he attempts to make himself available off the bench down the stretch.

The Yankees bullpen preserved the lead after Fried departed, and the victory kept New York on course as it approaches the postseason stretch. Fried's outing reinforced his standing atop the league in wins and offered a timely reminder of the value of increased command and velo in high-leverage, late-season games.