Josh Donaldson and Aaron Hicks hit back-to-back home runs in the third inning as part of multi-hit games to help the New York Yankees edge past the host Boston Red Sox for a 6-5 win on Thursday.
Donaldson and Hicks went 2-for-4 and combined for three runs. Donaldson highlighted the Yanks’ offensive night with a grand slam preceding Hicks’ longball. Gleyber Torres added a 2-for-5 effort.
The major-league-leading Yankees have won back-to-back games and are 3-1 against the Red Sox this season.
Rafael Devers drove in five runs during his second two-homer game of the season, helping the Red Sox cut into 5-0 and 6-2 deficits. He accounted for two of the team’s five hits.
Six of the Boston third baseman’s seven career hits against Yankees starter Gerrit Cole have left the ballpark.
Cole (8-2) struck out seven, earning the win despite allowing five runs on five hits and three walks in six innings.
Wandy Peralta, Michael King and Clay Holmes combined to pitch three shutout innings in relief. Holmes struck out one in a 1-2-3 ninth for his 16th save.
Boston starter Josh Winckowski (3-3) was charged for six runs, six hits and five walks in five innings. He struck out two as Boston took its third straight loss.
The prolific Yankees offense produced a 5-0 lead in the third inning.
After a Torres single sandwiched between two walks loaded the bases, Donaldson cleared the fences in straightaway center for a two-out grand slam.
Hicks capped New York’s five-run inning with a solo shot to right-center.
Boston got two runs back in the bottom of the same inning as Devers lined a two-out, two-run shot to right following Kevin Plawecki’s one-out single.
In the fifth, Hicks hit a two-out triple to right and scored as Jose Trevino reached base on a bloop double that fell behind Red Sox first baseman Franchy Cordero.
The Red Sox dented their deficit with a three-run spot in their half of the fifth. Cordero started the rally with a leadoff double before Plawecki walked and Devers crushed his second homer of the night to center.
–Field Level Media