New York Wins In Sixteen At Fenway

Can you imagine playing sixteen innings before the winner was decided?

That is how many innings it took to decide the winner of the second game of a four -game series between New York and Boston Saturday at Fenway Park.. The game started at 4:00 pm and didn't end until 10:00 pm.

Didi Gregorius' RBI single was the go-ahead hit for the Bombers in a thrilling 4-1, 16-inning victory over the Red Sox on Saturday at Fenway Park. Seven innings earlier, Matt Hollidayforced extras with a game-tying homer off Craig Kimbrel -- the first Fenway blown save in 31 career opportunities for the Boston closer. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242296670/yankees-outlast-red-sox-in-16-innings/

"The winning is the best part," Gregorius said. "You play a long game and you win, that means you never give up. Everybody is there, battling and playing the right way until the last out. That's what we did today." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242296670/yankees-outlast-red-sox-in-16-innings/

The game was the longest in the storied rivalry at Fenway Park in terms of time (five hours and 50 minutes), topping the epic Game 5 of the 2004 American League Championship Series by one minute. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242296670/yankees-outlast-red-sox-in-16-innings/

Instead of falling 5 1/2 games back in the American League East, the Yankees closed to within 3 1/2 of their first-place rivals while winning for just the eighth time in 27 games since June 13. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242296670/yankees-outlast-red-sox-in-16-innings/

After Gregorius put the Yankees in front for the first time all day, Austin Romine added an insurance RBI single and Gary Sanchez lofted a sacrifice fly. All of the damage came against Red Sox right-hander Doug Fister, who is scheduled to start on Tuesday night but pitched 2 2/3 innings in this one when Boston ran out of arms. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242296670/yankees-outlast-red-sox-in-16-innings/

It's a good feeling. Our guys were really good at tacking on," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I thought it was important. Our whole pitching staff did a tremendous job tonight. I don't know what it means for tomorrow, but that's a long, grueling game." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242296670/yankees-outlast-red-sox-in-16-innings/

Holliday, a central figure in this one, gave the Yankees life when he bashed his shot off Kimbrel to lead off the top of the ninth. Holliday's equalizer had a projected distance of 443 feet, according to Statcast™." according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242296670/yankees-outlast-red-sox-in-16-innings/

To win that game was really big," Holliday said. "We needed that game like we need every time we play teams in front of us. It feels good to help the team win and to come up with a hit like that against a pitcher like Kimbrel." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242296670/yankees-outlast-red-sox-in-16-innings/

Holliday was involved in a bizarre play in the top of the 11th that prompted Red Sox manager John Farrell to inform the umpires he was playing the rest of the game under protest. Holliday slid back into first base on a fielders choice grounder to first baseman Mitch Moreland. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242296670/yankees-outlast-red-sox-in-16-innings/

With Boston attempting to complete the double play, Xander Bogaerts' throw clipped Ellsbury in the left leg. Farrell asked crew chief Gary Cederstrom if there had been interference; the subsequent reviews and explanations took four minutes and 59 seconds before the ruling was that the play stands. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242296670/yankees-outlast-red-sox-in-16-innings/

"I was confused what had happened," Holliday said. "I didn't know that he didn't touch the base. That was just one of those things where, in my mind, with Ells running, he's going to touch first base and get the tag at second." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242296670/yankees-outlast-red-sox-in-16-innings/

Ace Chris Sale was again magnificent for the Red Sox, holding the Yankees to three hits and no runs over 7 2/3 innings while walking two and striking out 13. The performance ended with a strikeout of Sanchez on a nasty 1-2 slider on Sale's 118th pitch of the day, his season high. The lefty departed with a 1-0 lead, and Farrell brought Kimbrel on in the eighth inning with one on. Initially, it paid off, as the closer got superstar rookie Aaron Judge to fly out to right to cap off an entertaining 10-pitch at-bat. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242296670/yankees-outlast-red-sox-in-16-innings/

Luis Severino nearly matched Sale, allowing one run over seven strong innings. The only run in the first eight innings was a sacrifice fly by Moreland in the bottom of the third that put Boston ahead. The Red Sox didn't have an extra-base hit in the game. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242296670/yankees-outlast-red-sox-in-16-innings/

A lot of opportunities, a lot of missed opportunities," said Farrell. "A lot of very good pitching over the majority of today. Chris Sale was outstanding once again. A rare non-converted save for Craig today, and then some opportunities following where a base-hit with a man in scoring position just wasn't there today." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242296670/yankees-outlast-red-sox-in-16-innings/

 For the first time since June 6, Farrell brought Kimbrel in during the eighth inning. The situation was a dramatic one, with the tying run on first and dangerous rookie slugger Judge at the plate. Though Kimbrel got the best of that 10-pitch battle by inducing Judge to fly out to right to end the inning, it might have taken something out of the closer for the at-bat with Holliday to start the ninth. "according to tohttp://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242296670/yankees-outlast-red-sox-in-16-innings/

"He hit a fastball down the middle. That's part of the life of a reliever," said Kimbrel. "Sometimes one pitch can be the outcome of the entire game. It seemed like that was kind of it today." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242296670/yankees-outlast-red-sox-in-16-innings/

 It was a stellar day for Girardi's bullpen, particularly the escape in the bottom of the 10th when the Red Sox seemed close to walking off for the second straight day. Andrew Benintendi led off with a single to left-center and Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a single to right. Benintendi chose not to risk going from first to third and testing Judge's arm. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242296670/yankees-outlast-red-sox-in-16-innings/

Adam Warren came on and struck out pinch-hitter Chris Young, got Tzu-Wei Lin to line out and ended the inning by getting the dangerous Mookie Betts on a flyout to right. In all, the Yankees got nine shutout innings from the 'pen "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242296670/yankees-outlast-red-sox-in-16-innings/

New York improved to 46-42 and is 3.5 games back in third place while Boston is leading the American League East with a record of 51-40. 

New York and Boston will wrap up their series with a double header Sunday. Left-hander CC Sabathia who has a record of 7-3 with a 3.81 earn run average will start game one. Sabathia was moved up to start the first game of the twin bill after the 16-inning affair. Sabathia will be making his second start since returning from a left -hamstring strain. He last just 2/2/3 innings on July 4th against Toronto. He will go up against Boston right -hander Rick Porcello who has a record of 4-11 with a 4.75 earn run average. The sinkerballer has some momentum going into the second -half. He pitched his best game of the season Saturday before the All-Star break, allowing six hits and one run over eight innings in a complete game 1,-0 loss at Tropicana Field. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-red-sox/2017/07/16/490398#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=490398

First pitch is set for 1:05 pm. The game will be televised on TBS. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-red-sox/2017/07/16/490398#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=490398

As for the second game right-hander, Masahiro Tanaka who has a record of 7-8 with a 5.47 earn run average will be on the mound for New York. Tanaka takes the mound for the series finale looking to put a rough first half behind him. He's pitched at Fenway once this season and threw a shutout on April 27th to outduel Chris Sale, maybe his best start of the year. He will go up against Boston left  -hander David Price who has a record of 4-2 with a 3.91 earn run average. The lefty looks forward to a full second half after missing the first two months of the season with an elbow strain. Since joining the Redsox he has had a tough time against the Yankees, going 1-4 with an 8.31 earn run average in six starts. "according to  https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-red-sox/2017/07/16/491471#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491471

First pitch is set for 8:05 pm. The game will be televised on ESPN." according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-red-sox/2017/07/16/491471#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491471