BOSTON — In an impressive display of pitching and power hitting, Brayan Bello led the Boston Red Sox to a 2-0 victory over the New York Yankees on Sunday. This triumph sealed a three-game sweep and marked the Red Sox’s fifth consecutive win. Rafael Devers contributed significantly to the win with a home run, further bolstering his team’s success this season. Meanwhile, Trevor Story chipped in with an RBI single that added to the Yankees’ woes, a team they have bested in their last five encounters after a loss in their initial meeting this season. This winning streak ties the longest the Red Sox have achieved this year.
On a dramatic note, the Red Sox orchestrated a major trade after the game, sending Devers to the San Francisco Giants.
The Yankees, who currently lead the AL East, faltered in scoring opportunities going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and suffered their first series sweep this year. The team’s offensive struggles were underscored by being shut out for the third time this season. Historically, the Yankees’ four-run total in this series matches the team’s lowest during a three-game stretch at Fenway Park. The previous occurrences were from June 20-22, 1916, and September 28-30, 1922.
One of the Yankees’ key players, Aaron Judge, faced difficulties in the series, hitting just 1 for 12 with a solo home run and nine strikeouts, which brought his leading average down to .378. This marked the third time in Judge’s career he struck out three or more times in consecutive games.
Bello (3-1) delivered an outstanding performance, striking out eight batters over seven innings, surrendering just three hits, and issuing three walks on a career-high 114 pitches. Garrett Whitlock emerged in a pressure situation in the eighth to secure the final five outs, notching his first save.
Devers’ home run narrowly cleared the Green Monster in the fifth inning, putting Boston up 2-0 against Yankees pitcher Max Fried (9-2). Devers has an impressive 31 home runs against the Yankees since 2017, more than any other player during that period.
Story’s single followed a dramatic moment where Romy Gonzalez tripled, completing a daring head-first slide into third base. Fried, coming into the game with an outstanding record of 7-0 and a 0.83 ERA after Yankees’ losses, showed resilience by striking out nine over seven innings, though he did allow two runs and six hits.
Critical moments in the game included the eighth inning, where Whitlock forced Judge into a 5-4-3 double play with two runners on base and just one out, effectively stifling any Yankees comeback.
Boston’s starting pitchers have demonstrated consistency, lasting at least six innings in their last six games.
Looking ahead, the Yankees will have Clarke Schmidt (3-3, 3.60 ERA) on the mound as they face the Los Angeles Angels in the first of a four-game series at home. The Angels will start José Soriano (4-5, 3.86 ERA). Meanwhile, the Red Sox will embark on a nine-game tour of the West Coast, starting with a game in Seattle. Lucas Giolito (2-1, 5.45 ERA) will pitch for Boston against Logan Gilbert (1-1, 2.37 ERA), who is set to be activated from the 15-day injured list in time for the game.