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 After hitting two home runs against the New York Mets over the
weekend, the Boston Red Sox designated hitter slugged another
against their crosstown rivals, the New York Yankees, in a 4-3 win
in the opener of a three-game series Monday night at Fenway Park.
Ortiz's home run was the 495th of his career, inching him closer to
the 500-home run club.
"It's exciting for every one of us," Red Sox interim manager Torey
Lovullo said about Ortiz's pursuit of 500. "It's bigger than a lot
of things that are happening right now."
Ortiz now has three homers in four games, 14 since the All-Star
break, and 29 total in 2015.
"It's amazing (to watch)," said Boston left fielder Jackie Bradley
Jr., who was 3-for-3 with two runs Monday. "It's a great
accomplishment. He's getting close."
Ortiz had two hits, center fielder Mookie Betts hit a two-run homer,
and third baseman Pablo Sandoval also drove in a run as Boston
(61-70) ended the month on a high note.
The last-place Red Sox went 15-12 in August, only their second
winning month of the season.
Eduardo Rodriguez (8-5) survived two bases-loaded jams with nobody
out in his brief five-inning outing, as the Boston left-hander
allowed just two runs -- one earned -- on seven hits and three walks
while striking out four.
"I just try to get out of that inning, try to do the best I can do
so I don't give up too many runs in those innings," Rodriguez said.
New York (72-58) squandered ample opportunities Monday, stranding 14
runners on base.
Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius (4-for-5) nearly played the hero,
barely missing a grand slam with his fly ball to the warning track
in right with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth.
"I thought it had a chance," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "But
obviously it's a big ballpark when you start going that way. I'm not
sure how many feet it was from the wall but I thought it had a
chance."
Red Sox closer Jean Machi pitched the ninth and picked up the save
despite allowing a hit and three walks and forcing in a run with a
bases-loaded walk in his one inning of work.
Ivan Nova (5-7) was a hard-luck loser for New York. The right-hander
gave up three runs on seven hits and struck out three in six
innings.
"It was better than the last two (starts)," said Nova, who had given
up 10 runs in his last nine innings pitched prior to Monday. "I was
looking for a sign and I was trying to throw strikes."
Yankees right fielder Carlos Beltran and third baseman Chase Headley
each had one RBI.
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New York failed to gain ground in the AL East pennant race after the
first-place Toronto Blue Jays lost Monday.
"We missed an opportunity," Girardi said. "But it's really going to
come down to how we play too. Like I said, we had a lot of
opportunities tonight. Tonight we didn't get the big hit."
The Yankees loaded the bases three times in the first five innings,
but had little to show for it.
Beltran's sacrifice fly was all New York could muster in the first
after loading the bases on back-to-back errors and a single by
designated hitter Alex Rodriguez to open the game.
Gregorius singled in a run with the bases jammed and nobody out in
the fourth. But Boston skirted danger again after a groundout and
Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury's line out to left fielder
Bradley, who nailed the runner trying to score from third after the
catch for the inning-ending out.
A pair of home runs gave the Red Sox their leads as Betts' two-run
blast in the third landed in the Green Monster seats and Ortiz's
go-ahead solo shot barely cleared the wall in left an inning later.
NOTES: RHP Ryan Cook, RHP Noe Ramirez, and C Sandy Leon will all
join the Red Sox Tuesday, interim manager Torey Lovullo announced
Monday night. ... Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira (right shin bruise) was
sent back to New York for additional testing and will miss the
series against the Red Sox. Teixeira has missed four straight games.
... Yankees starter RHP Ivan Nova had allowed three or fewer runs in
four of his last six starts against Boston coming in. ... LF Hanley
Ramirez (right shoulder fatigue) was not in Boston's lineup. Ramirez
fielded ground balls at first base before the game. Jackie Bradley
Jr. started in left field. ... Boston C Ryan Hanigan started after
missing two games with a tight calf muscle. ... Red Sox RHP Rick
Porcello (6-11, 5.47 ERA) will face Yankees RHP Michael Pineda (9-8,
4.19) on Wednesday.
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