Kimbrel was trying to protect a three-run lead after the Yankees had been limited to one hit over the first eight innings, but the closer threw 28 pitches without recording an out. Brian McCann worked a bases-loaded walk off Kimbrel before Kelly entered, seeking his first career save.
Boston put the bubbly on ice with Mookie Betts' two-run double in the eighth inning off Adam Warren, awaiting its first celebration of any sort in the Bronx since the 2004 AL Championship Series. Betts' hit came on a chopper that darted down the left-field line following a Starlin Castro error, Dustin Pedroia's ground-rule double and an intentional walk to David Ortiz.