The Red Sox's bats were lifeless on Friday night as they dropped the first game of a three-game series against the AL East-leading Yankees. Boston is now 29-28 and a season-worst 8.5 games out of first place. (The Red Sox were also 8.5 GB after losing to the Yankees on April 17.)
Chris Sale (6-7-4-1-10, 108) struck out the side in the bottom of the first and Rafael Devers led off the top of the second with his eighth home run of the season. The happy feelings did not last long. Four of the seven hits allowed by Sale came in the third.