Red Sox beat Yankees 6-4, solidify reputation as potential playoff headache

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox closed the regular-season series with the New York Yankees with a 6-4 victory Sunday night at Fenway Park, their ninth win in 13 meetings, leaving them positioned to make noise in the postseason conversation with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

The Red Sox built an early lead and rode a strong outing from their starter to hold off a late Yankees surge. Boston, which managed just three extra-base hits, manufactured timely contact and went 3-for-4 with runners in scoring position in the first inning to set the tone for the night.

Jarren Duran opened the scoring with a leadoff triple to left in the bottom of the first after Giancarlo Stanton misplayed the ball, and Boston cashed in to take an early edge. The win was credited to the Red Sox starter, who was dominant early and recorded his fifth straight victory, limiting the Yankees to one hit over the first three innings while recording seven strikeouts.

New York rallied later. Giancarlo Stanton singled in the fourth, and Amed Rosario hit a two-run homer to pull the Yankees closer. Aaron Judge followed with a two-out blast to right-center in the sixth, narrowing the gap to two runs, but Boston held on as the bullpen preserved the lead.

Yankees reliever Will Warren, who spoke after allowing multiple first-inning runs, described the Red Sox as "scrappy," saying they consistently put together quality at-bats and stick to their plan. Boston's lineup did not rely on long balls against the Yankees but instead focused on making contact and capitalizing with runners aboard.

Manager Alex Cora praised the club's perseverance amid a season of injuries and roster changes. "If you told me in Fort Myers [during spring training] we were in a playoff spot with two weeks left, I would have taken it," Cora said. "We're not perfect, like I've always said. But it's a good baseball team."

Boston's recent stretch against New York has reinforced its ability to challenge the Yankees in a short series. The Red Sox entered the night 1 1/2 games behind New York for the top American League wild-card spot and three games clear of the Texas Rangers in the wild-card standings. They hold a one-game lead over the Houston Astros for the second wild-card berth.

Boston has overcome numerous injuries to reach this position. The club's approach has relied less on the long ball and more on situational hitting and defense, a formula Cora noted can be effective against power-heavy opponents like the Yankees.

The Red Sox will remain in Boston to host the Oakland Athletics for a three-game series, then travel to Tampa Bay to face the Rays before closing the regular season in Toronto. Those games will shape the final playoff picture over the next two weeks.

The victory extended Boston's recent edge over New York and underscored its standing as a team that can make runs in October if it holds its place in the wild-card mix. The Red Sox will enter the stretch run aiming to maintain consistency from a pitching staff that has shown the ability to silence the Yankees' offense at times and from a lineup that has found ways to score without relying on an abundance of extra-base hits.

New York, meanwhile, will regroup with the postseason in mind. The Yankees' offense displayed late power but was unable to overcome early setbacks, and the club will face a short span of games to secure its positioning before the final weekend of the regular season.

Boston's focus now turns to preserving its postseason spot and continuing the type of situational play that has made it a potential thorn in the side of higher-seeded opponents.