Yankees Hit Three HRs, Keep Playoff Chase Alive In 6-4 Home Win Over Red Sox

Tyler Austin smacked a two-run home run in the seventh inning to power the New York Yankees to a 6-4 home victory over the Boston Red Sox Tuesday night, thus keeping his team alive in the playoff chase for at least one more day.

Yankees Hit Three HRs, Keep Playoff Chase Alive In 6-4 Home Win Over Red Sox

Austin snapped the Red Sox’s 11-game winning streak with an opposite-field blast off David Price, who allowed six runs and once again struggled with the Yankees’ batting order.

“He’s an unbelievable pitcher, and I happened to put a good swing on a ball tonight. Not taking anything else away than that,” Austin said.

Boston will try again to clinch the American League East on Wednesday, needing only one win or a Blue Jays loss to lock up the division. The Red Sox (92-65) trail the Rangers (93-65) by a half-game in the race for home-field advantage, while the Yankees sit four games back of the second AL Wild Card spot.

“Once again we came back after being down tonight, and that shows the character of this ball-club, and really the pitching has allowed us to come back in certain ballgames,” said Red Sox manager John Farrell. “We’ll be back right here again tomorrow ready to start another [streak].”

Gary Sanchez– an AL Rookie of the Year Award candidate– gave the Yanks an early lead with his 20th homer, a two-run shot. Jacoby Ellsbury hit an RBI single in the fifth and Didi Gregorius added a solo homer, his 20th, in the sixth. Price gave up 12 hits to tie his season high; in four starts against the Bombers this season, the left-hander is 1-3 with a 7.88 ERA.

Rookie righty Luis Cessa had a strong outing, holding Boston to two runs and five hits over six innings. The Red Sox tied the game in the seventh off Tommy Lane as Aaron Hill blasted his first career pinch-hit home run and Dustin Pedroia smacked a run-scoring single into right field.

“It’s a tough lineup. I think it’s the best in the league,” Cessa said post-game. “You need to execute the pitches and throw it down in the zone. For me, it’s a really good night.”

Tyler Clippard struck out David Ortiz with two men on in the ninth inning to earn his second save. Playing his last series at Yankee Stadium, Ortiz went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts and left seven runners on base.

“It’s just how this game works. When you’re out there, obviously you don’t want those runners on,” Clippard said. “You’d like to just go 1-2-3. As players, we relish those moments. I wouldn’t have it any other way. If I’m going to get it done, I’d rather get it done against David Ortiz.”

Sanchez tied an 86-year-old record when he slugged his 20th homer of the season in the first inning off Price, thus matching a feat accomplished by Wally Berger of the 1930 Boston Braves. Yankees manager Joe Girardi praised the rookie.

“I can tell you, Gary’s meant as much to this team as any rookie in the big leagues this year, and he’s only been here what, a month and a half?” Girardi said. “That’s how important he has been. I think [Tigers pitcher Michael] Fulmer’s had a great year, but if I had a vote, it’d be for Gary.”

Mookie Betts also made a great play in right field in the sixth inning. With Starlin Castro on first, Chase Headley hit one to right, and it seemed like Betts lost the ball in the lights. However, Betts actually dove and fired to first for the double play. It was the young right fielder’s 14th assist of the season.

“It was tough,” said Betts. “It was in the lights the whole way. So I just had to try and make an adjustment, and once I was able to catch it, I figured he saw me looking into the lights. I took a look and aired it out and it was able to get there in time.”

Gergorius and Castro are the first pair of middle infielders in Yankees history to hit 20 homers or more in the same season.

Despite the loss, the Red Sox have won 16 of their last 20 and 19 of 25. They’re 11-2 in their last 13 road games.

The two teams will next face off again for the middle game of their three-game series at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night. Right-hander Clay Buchholz will take the mound for the Red Sox, while Yankees righty Bryan Mitchell will make his fifth start of the season.

NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 08: Tyler Austin #26 of the New York Yankees follows through on his ninth inning game winning home run against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on September 8, 2016 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)