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| Ranaudo pitched a gem in his first MLB start. Photo Credit: Jeff Roberson/AP |
Anthony Ranaudo, a Freehold, New Jersey native called up from Triple A Pawtucket got the ball on Friday night and ended up tossing six innings limiting the Yankees to two runs on four hits for his first major league victory over the Yankees.
By: Sunil Sunderraj
Boston wasted no time getting on the board as in the 2nd inning after a Brock Holt triple down the right field line into the corner, Dustin Pedroia belted a fly ball into the triangle are of deep center field for a ground rule double that plated Holt giving the Red Sox the early 1-0 lead. Next stepped up David Ortiz who lined a single into right field bringing in Pedroia to push the lead to 2-0.
The Yankees responded in the top of the 4th as Carlos Beltran clubbed his 13th home run to leadoff the inning into the right field bullpen cutting Boston’s lead in half to 2-1.
In the bottom half of the 4th inning, the Red Sox regained their two run lead. First a bloop double down the right field line by Will Middlebrooks followed by a bloop single into shallow right field by David Ross that brought Middlebrooks is how Boston scored their third run of the game.
New York caught a break in the top of the 6th after a walk followed by a stolen base attempt at second base by Jacoby Ellsbury that was initially ruled out by the umpire but after a challenge by Manager Joe Girardi the play was reversed as replays showed Ellsbury got his foot on the base before the tag was applied. After moving over to third base on a ground out, Ellsbury trotted home after a base hit to center field by Beltran reducing the deficit to 3-2.
Starting Yankees pitcher Chris Capuano received outstanding defense from third baseman Chase Headley who made two spectacular plays in the third and sixth inning. Twice Headley robbed Xander Bogaerts of a base hit. Also he on a David Ross grounder knocked the ball down and fired to first base for the out.
Leading up to the bottom of the seventh, Capuano had retired nine hitters in a row. However, Mookie Betts changed that pattern leading off the inning with single and moved to second on a sac bunt by Brock Holt. At this point Girardi decided to remove Capuano from the game and bring in Shawn Kelley.Pedroia delivered a single up the middle as Betts rounded second on his way home to make the score 4-2.
In the Top of the 8th inning, Derek Jeter led off with a mammoth blast over the Green Monster to cut Boston’s lead to 4-3. It was Jeter’s first home run since June 24th and first in his last 121 at bats.
On the next play Betts made an unbelievable catch on a deep fly to dead center off the bat of Ellsbury extending his glove to haul the ball in and crashing to the ground with dirt getting kicked up in the process.
Mark Teixeira looped a double inside the left field line and Brian McCann walked but Headley grounded out to second base to end the inning. For the game, the Yankees were 2 for 17 with runners in scoring position.
Red Sox closer Koji Uehara pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his 22nd save of the season. Capuano’s record as a Yankee dropped to 1-2. Despite surrendering four earned runs, he did not walk a batter while striking out five hitters. Newly acquired players Stephen Drew and Martin Prado were a combined 0 for 6. On Saturday afternoon Shane Greene(2-1) opposes Allen Webster(1-0). 