The tying runs were on base. J.D. Martinez was at the plate. A Red Sox uprising had suddenly generated nervous energy in The Bronx.
Three Aroldis Chapman pitches later, however, there was a Yankees celebration. Martinez grounded into a double play. Rafael Devers bounced out to first. The Yankees had another victory, 5-3, over the once again floundering Red Sox.
The end of Saturday night’s game encapsulated how the rivalry has gone this season. Four times, the two teams have met, and four times the Yankees have won. The Red Sox have mustered just seven runs and now are 9¹/u2082 games behind their bitter rivals in the AL East standings.