Red Sox 4, Yankees 3

Happy Birthday Andy Pettite! One of my favorite Yankees of all time. His Game Five 1996 World Series classic is one of the great October performances in the history of a franchise with a lot of great October performances. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pettian01.shtml https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL199610240.shtml

Who remembers the glare? Happy Birthday to Oswald Peraza! I've always liked Peraza as a player. If the Yanks were going nowhere, I'd say put him at third base everyday and let him get lots of at bats and try to develop his offensive game. Quick Stats: The Yankees are 42-27, good for first place in the American League East. They are on a pace for 98 wins. Aaron Judge watch: The Yankee slugger was hitless in four at bats with three strikeouts. Despite the off-game, he's slashing .384/.479/.767. Judge is on pace for about 13 WAR (baseball-reference), which if sustained would be the second most in baseball history among position players. Big Story: After going down quietly in the first, the Yankees gifted the Bosox a run in the first on an Anthony Volpe throwing error. Boston tacked on single runs off starter Carlos Rodon in the fourth and fifth innings while rookie Hunter Dobbins held the Yankee bats in check, allowing only two singles through six innings. In the bottom of the sixth, Trevor Story led off with a double and Rodon's night was over. Yerry De los Santos came on and allowed Story to score after a sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly and Boston had a 4-0 lead. The way the Yanks have swung the bats the past couple days made a four run deficit feel like a lot more. They caught a break though when Boston felt Dobbins' 82 pitches were enough, and turned to the bullpen in the top of the seventh. Reliever Luis Guerrero immediately walked Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. After Volpe lined out, Jasson Dominguez singled Goldy home and the Yanks were on the board. Austin Wells then singled to knock in Chisholm. Suddenly, the Yankees were only down 4-2 and with runners on first and second with one out.

Alas, DJ LeMahieu struck out and Dominguez was picked off at second by Red Sox catcher Carlos Narvaez while just standing on no man's land between second and third - Aaron Boone later said that Dominguez erroneously thought Trent Grisham had struck out, though he just had two strikes - and the threat was over. After De los Santos held the Sox scoreless in the eighth, the Yanks threatened in the ninth when Goldschmidt led off with a double and made his way home after a couple ground outs. With two outs and only a run behind Dominguez doubled to give the Yankee fans hope but was stranded when Wells ripped a fly to deep, deep center field, that was caught by Ceddanne Rafaela at the wall to end the game. So close! Close, but not enough. Red Sox 4, Yankees 3. Player of the Game: Wells drove in a run and darned near hit a home run to put the Yankees ahead in the ninth. Notable Performances: De los Santos ended up with three scoreless innings (per the boxscore) and has a 1.80 ERA in 13 appearances this year...Rodon wasn't great, but kept the team in the game. Better to Forget: Trent Grisham was hitless in four plate appearances. After his great start, he's slashing .208/.331/.360 since May 1. Seems to me it's time for him to go back to fourth outfielder status and put Bellinger or Dominguez in center field every day. They Said It: "I have nothing to say. No excuses. I made a mistake." - Dominguez on his baserunning miscue. My Take: It's Father's Day! I hope it's a happy day for all readers, whether you're a dad, spending time with your dad, of remembering your dad. My Dad passed away a number of years ago, but a big part of my inheritance from him is the Yankee fandom that we both enjoyed when he was living. I have a real soft spot in my heart for his favorites, Mickey Mantle and the 1961 Yankees. This seems to be a good day to highlight that the Yankees are part of one of the more interesting legacies in the game - the three generation families. This of course is the Boone family, who have combined about 100 years of baseball service, be it playing, managing, coaching, scouting, or in the front office. Ray Boone, two-time All-Star infielder: https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/boonera01.shtml Bob Boone, son of Ray and four-time All-Star and six-time Gold Glove recipient: https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/boonebo01.shtml Aaron and Bret Boone, sons of Bob, grandsons of Ray: https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/booneaa01.shtml https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/boonebr01.shtml Bret's son Jake spent some time in the minors, and now works for the MLB Commissioner's office. I'll bet the Boone family Thanksgiving meals are interesting! Next Up: Time for a stopper! Max Fried (9-1, 1.94) goes against Brayan Bello (2-1, 3.86). Game time 1:35.