Yankees at Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox went the unconventional route in quieting the potent offense of the New York Yankees in the opener of a four-game series, using seven pitchers to beat their bitter rival for only the fifth time in 16 games this season. The Red Sox will be hoping for a similar outcome from the bullpen when they use an opener for Saturday afternoon's matchup.
Mitch Moreland celebrated his 34th birthday in style, clubbing a three-run shot among his three hits to give Boston a franchise-record eight players with at least 15 homers. Xander Bogaerts boosted his RBI total to 105 with a two-run double to put him within one hit of 1,000 for Boston, which trails wild card-leading Tampa Bay by 6 1/2 games. Brett Gardner matched his career high with his 21st home run for New York, which was limited to one or zero runs for only the 12th time this year. The Yankees, who hold an 8 1/2-game lead atop the American League East, will send left-hander J.A. Happ to the mound Saturday while Boston counters with Travis Lakins.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS1, YES (New York), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH J.A. Happ (11-8, 5.34 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Travis Lakins (0-1, 4.70)
Happ is coming off a masterful performance against Oakland but did not factor in the decision after allowing only one hit over six scoreless innings. The 36-year-old alternated wins and losses over his previous six starts, one of which was a victory over Boston on Aug. 4, when he yielded four runs and seven hits (two home runs) over 5 2/3 innings. Happ, who is 2-0 with a 4.24 ERA against the Red Sox this season, has flustered Mookie Betts (8-for-42) and Bogaerts (6-for-39).
Recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket when rosters expanded last weekend, Lakins had a shaky outing at the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, giving up two runs and five hits over five innings. The 25-year-old, who will be making his first career start, also worked two innings in each of his two appearances last month versus Baltimore, giving up a combined one run and two hits while striking out five. Lakins has struggled with runners on and two outs, allowing hitters to go 5-for-14 in the situation.
WALK-OFFS
1. Yankees RF Aaron Judge was hitless in four at-bats Friday to fall to 11-for-52 against Boston this season.
2. Betts is only 11-for-61 against New York in 2019.
3. Yankees RHP Luis Severino struck out five and gave up one run in three-plus innings of a rehab outing at Double-A Trenton.