Boston trailed by two heading into the fifth inning, and then everything changed in a span of three plate appearances. Caleb Durbin's two-run homer to left — the blow that gave the Red Sox a lead they never surrendered — turned a 2-0 deficit into a 4-2 advantage and set the tone for a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees on Thursday at Fenway Park.
Durbin finished 2-for-3 with a walk, 2 runs scored, 2 RBI, and a home run. Connelly Early was equally sharp, working 6.0 innings and allowing 2 runs on 5 hits with 9 strikeouts and 1 walk on 98 pitches. Early picked up his seventh win of the season, now 7-5 with a 3.59 ERA. Aroldis Chapman closed it out with a scoreless ninth, recording his 15th save of the year.
New York struck first. Domínguez singled to center in the first inning, scoring Goldschmidt to make it 1-0. Jose Caballero extended the lead to 2-0 with a solo home run to left center in the fourth, a 400-foot shot. Boston answered in the fifth: Masataka Yoshida scored on a fielder's choice by Willson Contreras, then Jarren Duran's sacrifice fly to left tied it at 2-2 as Rafaela crossed the plate. Durbin then homered to left, 344 feet, scoring Contreras and putting Boston ahead 4-2. The Yankees pulled within one in the seventh when Jazz Chisholm Jr. scored on a groundout by Paul Goldschmidt, but Boston added two more in the eighth — Durbin scored on a hit-by-pitch to Nate Eaton, and Ceddanne Rafaela's fielder's choice brought home Andruw Monasterio — to seal the final margin.
Cam Schlittler absorbed the loss despite a strong individual effort. He struck out 9 over 5.0 innings, allowing 4 runs — none earned — on 5 hits and 2 walks. New York's four errors proved costly, as all four of Boston's fifth-inning runs came with unearned help. Schlittler falls to 8-4 on the season, carrying a 1.62 ERA.
Boston is now 32-46, sitting fifth in the division. New York, winners of two straight, improved to 48-31 and remain atop the standings.