Moreland's 3 run homer keys Sox win over Yanks

*Photo from the New York Times*

   Mitch Moreland hit a 3 run homer, 7 pitchers combined for just 3 hits, and the Boston Red Sox smothered the New York Yankees with a 6-1 win on Friday night. Despite the fact the Red Sox only have 5 wins against the Yankees this year, 4 of them have come at Fenway Park. The Red Sox have won 13 of 19 games, but they remain 6 1/2 games out of a wild card spot. Moreland said postgame that ''It's definitely going to be difficult, we're not in the best of spots, but everybody in here is continuing to fight and try to help the team win.'' 

   The game was scoreless until the 4th inning, when Brock Holt ripped a single past Gleyber Torres to make it 1-0 Boston. The next batter was Moreland, who cranked a 3 run homer inside the Pesky Pole to make it 4-0. In the 5th, Xander Bogaerts doubled off the right edge of the green monster to score two runs and make it 6-1. New York's only run came on a Brett Gardner solo homer that wrapped around the pesky pole. 

   The Red Sox knocked around 17 game winner Domingo German, as he lasted 4 1/3, giving up 5 runs on 3 hits and 4 walks. Nestor Cortes Jr gave up the other run. Manager Aaron Boone said that ''We just didn't mount a whole lot offensively tonight, certainly, part of that is them being able to match up, but part of it we just had a down night.'' The Yankees offense looked lost all night, as they faced different types of pitchers. 

   Jhoulys Chacin got the start for the Red Sox after David Price was scratched, and worked two perfect innings with 4 strikeouts. After that, Josh Taylor, Marcus Walden, Andrew Cashner, Ryan Weber, Darwinzon Hernandez, and Bobby Poyner finished off the Yankees. Walden ended up getting the win, working the 4th inning and allowing 2 baserunners. He struck out 2 hitters. Cashner gave up the one run.

   The Yankees will look to rebound by sending lefty JA Happ to the mound on Saturday. The Red Sox have 21 pitchers on their active roster, so they can afford to do another bullpen game, as they will be doing on Saturday. Travis Lakins will start off for the Red Sox. First pitch is at 4:05 EST at Fenway.