Yankees at Red Sox (Game 2)
The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox will try to summon up the energy for a Sunday doubleheader to cap what has been a wild four-game series thus far at Fenway Park. After the Yankees blew a ninth-inning lead and lost Friday's series opener, they utilized a game-tying Matt Holliday homer in the ninth and used a three-run rally in the 16th to claim Saturday's meeting 4-1.
The marathon victory, which lasted nearly six hours, allowed New York to pull within 3 1/2 games of the first-place Red Sox but left both teams with uncertainty heading into a twinbill Sunday. They each used seven relievers in the longest game between the rivals at Fenway Park since 1966 - a scenario which figures to prompt some roster moves Sunday. Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is 0-for-9 in the series, while fellow right fielder Mookie Betts went 0-for-6 for the Red Sox in the 16-inning loss. New York turns to CC Sabathia in the matinee and Masahiro Tanaka in the nightcap, while Rick Porcello precedes David Price for the Red Sox.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Masahiro Tanaka (7-8, 5.47 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH David Price (4-2, 3.91)
Tanaka was showing signs of a turnaround following a rocky first couple of months, but he went into the break off a rough outing against Milwaukee last Sunday. The 28-year-old gave up five runs in 4 1/3 innings while serving up two home runs, running his total in that category to 23 - second-most in the American League. Tanaka posted his second career shutout with a three-hit gem at Fenway Park on April 27 but was reached for five runs on five hits - three homers - in five frames of a rematch at Yankee Stadium last month.
Price has allowed three earned runs or fewer in all but one of his nine starts since coming off the disabled list in May, the one outlier being a five-inning, six-run effort at New York on June 8. He has not given up a home run in four straight starts - spanning 25 innings - after allowing seven in his first five outings. The five-time All-Star, who owns a 4.69 ERA in his career against the Yankees, has struggled with several of their hitters, including Gary Sanchez (4-for-7, four home runs), Didi Gregorius (12-for-24), Jacoby Ellsbury (27-for-77, six doubles) and Chase Headley (12-for-36).
WALK-OFFS
1. Boston placed RHP Joe Kelly (hamstring) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled RHP Brandon Workman on Saturday, while RHP Blaine Boyer left the game with elbow tightness.
2. Holliday's homer off Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel allowed the Yankees to remain the only team in the majors that has yet to be shut out.
3. New York is 4-39 when trailing after eight innings after going 3-71 a year ago.