Red Sox grab early lead, double up rival Yankees

Field Level Media|published: Sat 15th June, 22:52 2024

Jun 15, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Justin Slaten (63) is greeted by manager Alex Cora after pitching out of a jam during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler O'Neill and Jarren Duran each collected two hits and scored twice as the Boston Red Sox beat the visiting New York Yankees 8-4 on Saturday night.

O'Neill scored in each of the first two innings, when Boston built a 5-2 lead. He had an RBI double in the first and singled in the second. Duran doubled in the first, hit an RBI single in the eighth and scored in each inning.

Juan Soto hit a solo home run for the Yankees -- his 18th of the season - off reliever Justin Slaten (4-2). Giancarlo Stanton had two of New York's six hits.

Boston's Kenley Jansen recorded the final four outs to earn his 11th save.

New York starter Carlos Rodon (9-3) exited after throwing 109 pitches in five innings. The left-hander gave up five runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out seven.

Ceddanne Rafaela had three of Boston's 12 hits.

The Red Sox hit three doubles in the bottom of the first, when they took a 3-0 lead. In addition to O'Neill's RBI double, Boston received an RBI single from Connor Wong and an RBI double from Jamie Westbrook.

The Yankees cut Boston's lead to 3-2 when DJ Lemahieu's two-run single drove in Stanton and Anthony Rizzo in the top of the second, but Boston regained a three-run lead when Rafael Devers hit a two-run double in the bottom half of the second.

Boston starter Cooper Criswell gave up two runs on three hits in four innings, notching six strikeouts and issuing two walks.

The Yankees trailed 5-3 after Soto's home run in the seventh.

Boston added to its lead in the seventh. Masataka Yoshida hit a two-out, ground-rule double and scored when pinch hitter Enmanuel Valdez singled to center for a 6-3 cushion.

Rizzo scored on a fielder's choice to make it a 6-4 game in the eighth, but the Yankees stranded runners on first and third when Jansen retired Anthony Volpe for the final out in the inning.

Duran's RBI single drove in Rafaela to put the Red Sox in front 7-4 in the bottom of the eighth before Duran made it 8-4 when he scored from third on catcher Jose Trevino's errant pickoff throw.

--Field Level Media