Alex Verdugo celebrates after hitting a two-run single in the bottom of the 10th inning Saturday night to give the Red Sox a 6-5 win over the Yankees at Fenway Park. Michael Dwyer/Associated Press
BOSTON — Alex Verdugo hit a tying single in the eighth inning and a winning two-run single that capped a three-run 10th, lifting the Boston Red Sox over the New York Yankees 6-5 Saturday night.
Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo gave the Yankees a 5-3 lead with RBI doubles in the top of the 10th off Jake Diekman.
Jeter Downs – named after former Yankees captain Derek Jeter – hit a run-scoring single in the bottom half off Wandy Peralta (2-2) for his first major league hit.
Thiird baseman Josh Donaldson bobbled Xander Bogaerts’ potential game-ending, double-play grounder on the transfer, getting only one out at first.
With runners on second and third and two outs, Verdugo lined a single to right that scored Rob Refsnyder and Downs, who beat Joey Gallo’s throw. Downs was in the starting lineup for Triple-A Worcester earlier Saturday before he was scratched and called up.
Verdugo tied the score 3-3 with an eighth-inning single off Clay Holmes, who blew a save for the second time in 18 chances.
Rob Refsnyder, right, celebrates with Christian Vazquez after hitting a solo home run Saturday night against the New York Yankees. Refsnyder also led off the bottom of the 10th with a single that sparked a three-run rally. Michael Dwyer/Associated Press
Former Yankee Rob Refsnyder added a solo homer for the Red Sox, who stopped a four-game losing streak and improved to just 10-20 against AL East rivals
Aaron Hicks hit a solo homer and Rizzo, returning after missing four games because of a bad back, had a pair of RBI doubles.
Boston evened the series, and on Sunday night will try to avoid dropping to 0-9 in series against AL East rivals. New York’s AL East lead was cut to 15 games over the second-place Red Sox.
On a lively night at Fenway Park with fans chanting often for both teams, New York took a 3-1 lead against Ryan Brasier in the sixth when Rizzo doubled just under the glove of center fielder Jarren Duran’s diving bid. Donaldson added an RBI single.
Refsnyder sent his shot over a billboard above the Green Monster.
New York starter Jordan Montgomery gave up two runs, six hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
Hicks’ tying shot bounced off a wall separating the bullpens.
HEY ROOK
Boston started a rookie pitcher for the fourth straight game. Kutter Crawford gave up one run and four hits in five innings, striking out six and walking two.
STREAKS SNAPPED
Red Sox catcher Kevin Plawecki threw out Kyle Higashioka attempting to steal after being unsuccessful against his first 15 base runners this season. New York had not been caught in its previous 16 tries.
BACK-TO-BACK
Yankees shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa made consecutive splendid plays in the fourth, going deep in the hole to grab Bogaerts’ grounder before firing to first. On the next play, he cut in front of the second-base bag and threw out Verdugo after snagging his grounder.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Yankees: Right-hander Domingo Germán (right shoulder impingement, injured list since spring training) threw four scoreless innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Boone said the team will discuss activating him in the next 24-48 hours.
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