Aroldis Chapman Blows The Save As New York Falls To Boston In The Opener At Fenway On A Walk-Off

Is New York's season going down the drain or are they just having a tough time at this point? They didn't start the second -half out on the right foot Friday.

New York started the second half of the season  getting defeated by  rival Boston 5-4 at Fenway Park despite Gary Sanchez home run. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242168424/red-sox-walk-off-against-chapman-yankees/

 A zany bottom of the ninth inning on Friday night at Fenway Park left the Red Sox celebrating a 5-4 walk-off win over the Yankees without a hit leaving the infield at any point during the unlikely rally. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242168424/red-sox-walk-off-against-chapman-yankees/

Perhaps, then, it was only fitting that the winning run came courtesy of a walk by Andrew Benintendi against Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman, who blew the save. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242168424/red-sox-walk-off-against-chapman-yankees/

It was quite a dramatic way for the rivals to open the second half. It was the first time the Red Sox defeated the Yankees on a walk-off walk since Aug. 7, 1956, when Ted Williams worked an 11th inning free pass against New York's Tommy Byrne. It was the first walk-off walk for the Red Sox against any opponent since Trot Nixon on Sept. 23, 2000, against the Orioles. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242168424/red-sox-walk-off-against-chapman-yankees/

"That 3-1 pitch, I was 90 percent take," said Benintendi. "It was going to take a perfect pitch to swing at with how he was throwing." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242168424/red-sox-walk-off-against-chapman-yankees/

Of Chapman's 23 pitches, just 11 were for strikes -- only one a swinging strike. He didn't record any outs as the Yankees were handed their Major League-leading 18th blown save of the season." according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242168424/red-sox-walk-off-against-chapman-yankees/

The crushing defeat dropped the Yankees to 7-19 since June 13, and put them 4 1/2 games behind the Red Sox in the American League East. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242168424/red-sox-walk-off-against-chapman-yankees/

Gary Sanchez had staked the Yankees to a one-run lead in the fifth with a towering two-run shot to left against Drew Pomeranz. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242168424/red-sox-walk-off-against-chapman-yankees/

The score stayed that way until strange things started happening against Chapman in the ninth. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242168424/red-sox-walk-off-against-chapman-yankees/

Mookie Betts started with an infield single in the hole at shortstop. Dustin Pedroia followed with a roller to short that Didi Gregorius snagged and tried to get the force at second. But the throw was high, the speedy Betts slid in, and everyone was safe. Those two grounders each had a hit probability of 8 percent, according to Statcast™." according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242168424/red-sox-walk-off-against-chapman-yankees/

"It's frustrating," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "You look at how he got in trouble; there were some longer counts, but he gave up some ground balls just in the hole. If they're at somebody, the game is probably over. That's the frustrating part. He wasn't necessarily hit hard, but they put good at-bats on him and they won a game." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242168424/red-sox-walk-off-against-chapman-yankees/

Betts and Pedroia then surprised Chapman with a double steal. Xander Bogaerts hit a grounder to second that Ronald Torreyes muffed for an error, allowing Betts to score the tying run. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242168424/red-sox-walk-off-against-chapman-yankees/

"We didn't expand the strike zone," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "We had relentless at-bats. We forced Chapman to throw the ball over the plate. We get the benefit of an extra out inside there. It's a credit to our guys of not maybe losing focus inside some at-bats. We battled. We fought back. Just a good finish to this one."

Girardi ordered an intentional walk of Hanley Ramirez. That gave Chapman no margin for error, and he walked Benintendi to end it.

"Yeah, I mean, it's definitely huge," said Benintendi. "They won that first eight innings, so to win that one inning and win the game was big."

New York drops to 45-42  and now sits in third place in the American League East 4.5 games back of Boston who improves to 51-39 on the season. 

New York and Boston play game two Saturday at Fenway Park. Right-hander Luis Severino will be on the mound for New York. He has a record of 5-4 with a 3.54 earn run average. He is fresh off his first career -all-star nod, Severino makes his first start of the second half Saturday. He's also coming off his fourth double digit strikeout game of the season, a seven -inning, three -run  10-strikeout effort against the Brewers. He will go up against Boston left-hander Chris Sale who has a record of 11-4 with a 2.75 earn run average. The power lefty was stellar throughout the first-half, notching 178 strikeouts. The most by any MLB pitcher at the All-Star break since Curt Schilling in 2002. At Fenway Sale is 6-1 with a 2.34 earn run average while holding opponents to a 1.87 average "according to tohttps://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-red-sox/2017/07/15/491456#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491456 

First pitch is set for 4:05 pm. The game will be televised on FS1 and Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-red-sox/2017/07/15/491456#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491456