BOSTON — A seemingly perfect return to Fenway Park for Alex Verdugo marked another bad night for Brayan Bello, whose struggles continued to mount Friday as the Red Sox lost their first matchup against the Yankees this season.
Verdugo hit a two-run homer in the first inning and added more two RBIs later in the game to propel New York to an 8-1 victory in the opener of a three-game series at Fenway. Bello’s ERA rose to 5.00 as he failed to get through five innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits in 4 ⅔ frames. Through 70 games, the Red Sox — who failed to capitalize on a wild night from New York’s pitching staff — are 35-35.
Verdugo, at Fenway as a visitor for the first time since July 2019, was 3-for-5 with four RBIs and a run. Bello entered with a 1.45 ERA in five career starts against the Yankees but couldn’t continue that magic in front of a crowd of 35,024 — a number that didn’t constitute a sell-out.
Verdugo, always one for the dramatic, needed no time to silence those booing him at a packed Fenway Park. With a runner on second, Verdugo drilled a Bello sinker into the center field bleachers for a two-run shot, then pounded his chest and yelled loudly during a long trek around the bases. It was his ninth homer of 2024.
New York added to its lead on a sloppy defensive play in the third when Bello failed to corral an easy flip by Dominic Smith on what should have been an inning-ending groundout, allowing Giancarlo Stanton to score. After starter Luis Gil walked back-to-back batters to start the bottom of the inning, Enmanuel Valdez made it 3-1 with an RBI double. But with two men in scoring position, Gil battled to strike out both Smith and Ceddanne Rafaela to escape.
Anthony Volpe then tagged Bello for a single to start the fifth, and after Aaron Judge worked a one-out walk, Verdugo added to his ledger with an RBI two-bagger off the Green Monster. Anthony Rizzo followed with an RBI single that made it 5-1.
Facing Chase Anderson in the ninth inning, the Yankees piled on. Catcher Jose Trevino made it a five-run game with a solo shot (his seventh of the year). Judge then almost left the yard himself, lifting a high fly ball off the Green Monster for an RBI double that made it 7-1. Verdugo then punctuated the New York win with his third hit and fourth RBI of the night when he laced a single through the right side.
Gil issued four walks and reliever Tommy Kahnle, who followed him, gave out two more free passes, so the Red Sox had six walks in the first five frames. But they went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base, spoiling a parade of baserunners. In all, Boston’s batters struck out 14 times.
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Criswell will get start Saturday night
The Red Sox will look to even the series Saturday night behind right-hander Cooper Criswell (3-3, 4.13 ERA), who has struggled to a 6.45 ERA in his last five starts. The Yankees will start left-hander Carlos Rodón (9-2, 2.93 ERA). First pitch is at 7:15 p.m. ET and the game will air exclusively on FOX.
