Verdugo twice rallies Red Sox for 6-5 win over Yankees

By KEN POWTAK Associated Press

BOSTON — Alex Verdugo hit a tying single in the eighth inning and a winning two-run single that capped a three-run 10th, lifting the Boston Red Sox over the New York Yankees 6-5 Saturday night.

Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo gave the Yankees a 5-3 lead with RBI doubles in the 10th off Jake Diekman.

Jeter Downs — named after former Yankees captain Derek Jeter — hit a run-scoring single in the bottom half off Wandy Peralta (2-2) for his first major league hit.

Thiird baseman Josh Donaldson bobbled Xander Bogaerts’ potential game-ending, double-play grounder on the transfer, getting only one out at first.

With runners on second and third and two outs, Verdugo lined a single to right that scored Rob Refsnyder and Downs, who scored ahead of Joey Gallo’s throw. Downs was in the starting lineup for Triple-A Worcester earlier Saturday before he was scratched and called up.

Verdugo had tied the score 3-3 with a eighth-inning single off Clay Holmes, who blew a save for the second time in 18 chances.

Former Yankee Rob Refsnyder added a solo homer for the Red Sox, who stopped a four-game losing streak and improved to just 10-20 against AL East rivals

Aaron Hicks hit a solo homer and Rizzo, returning after missing four games with a bad back, had a pair of RBI doubles.

Boston evened the series and on Sunday night tries to avoid dropping to 0-9 in series against AL East rivals. New York’s AL East lead was cut to 15 games over the second-place Red Sox.

On a lively night at Fenway Park with fans chanting often for both teams, New York took a 3-1 lead against Ryan Brasier in the sixth when Rizzo doubled just under the glove of center fielder Jarren Duran’s diving bid. Donaldson added an RBI single.

Refsnyder sent his shot over a billboard above the Green Monster.

New York starter Jordan Montgomery gave up two runs, six hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Hicks’ tying shot bounced off a wall separating the bullpens.

HEY ROOK

Boston started a rookie pitcher for the fourth straight game. Kutter Crawford gave upoe run and four hits in five innings, striking out six and walking two.

STREAKS SNAPPED

Red Sox C Kevin Plawecki threw out Kyle Higashioka attempting to steal after being unsuccessful against his first 15 baserunners this season, pointing to the Boston dugout after the play. New York had not been caught in its previous 16 tries.

BACK-TO-BACK

Yankees SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa made consecutive splendid plays in the fourth, going deep in the hole to grab Bogaerts’ grounder before firing to first. On the next play, he cut in front of the second-base bag and threw out Verdugo after snagging his grounder.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: RHP Domingo Germán (right shoulder impingement, injured list since spring training) threw four scoreless innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Boone said the team will discuss activating him in the next 24-48 hours.

Red Sox: Manager Alex Cora said All-Star 3B Rafael Devers will be out until at least Monday because of a sore back. “He’s been battling this for a while. We have to be smart,” Cora said.

SOX ROSTER SHUFFLE

RHP Connor Seabold went on the 15-day IL with a strained right forearm and INF/OF Christian Arroyo was placed on the 10-day IL with a strained left groin. The Red Sox designated RHP Michael Feliz for assignment. RHP Kaleb Ort was selected from Triple-A Worcester, and Downs and RHP Phillips Valdez were recalled from there.

UP NEXT

Yankees RHP Jameson Taillon (9-2, 3.63 ERA) is slated to start the series finale Sunday night against Red Sox RHP Nick Pivetta (8-6, 3.68), who gave up a season-high seven runs in his last start.