BOSTON -- The most winning combination for the Red Sox this season has been Rick Porcello pitching at Fenway Park. Backed by the latest solid effort by the sinkerballer, Boston rolled to a 5-3 victory over the Yankees in Tuesday night's opener of the rivalry series.
Porcello (eight innings, two earned runs) improved to 11-0 with a 3.11 ERA at Fenway, and Boston is 12-0 in his home starts. It was the 100th career win for the right-hander, who is 15-3 with a 3.40 ERA this season.
Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel got into a jam in the ninth, walking four batters to allow a run. After 37 pitches, he was removed in mid-save opportunity. Matt Barnes came on with the bases loaded and two outs and ended it by getting Mark Teixeira looking. Alex Rodriguez, who will be granted his release from the Yankees later this week to move into an advisory role for the club, did not play, though Fenway fans roared, "We want A-Rod" in the late innings.
Andrew Benintendi had a solid Fenway debut, going 3-for-3, scoring twice and driving in a run. Dustin Pedroia had a pair of doubles and drove in three runs.
Things got tense between the rivals in the top of the seventh, when Jackie Bradley Jr. made a magnificent throw to third to nail Chase Headley. Headley seemed irked at Porcello after being tagged out by Brock Holt, and he walked toward the pitcher. The benches and bullpens briefly cleared.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Benintendi an instant hit at Fenway: Benintendi continues to be unfazed by his new surroundings. The left fielder sprayed a line drive to left for a single in his first at-bat at Fenway, then came just inches from a home run in his second at-bat before settling for a double. The performance came on the heels of his three-hit game at Dodger Stadium on Sunday. More >
Severino struggles in first start back: Prior to Tuesday night's game, Yankees manager Joe Girardi talked about how impressed he had been with the lastest relief outing by Luis Severino. The right-hander, making his first start for the club since May 13, seemed to roll over that success by allowing only a single over the first two innings. It was downhill from there, as Severino (1-7) was unable to hold a 2-0 lead and the Red Sox bats plugged away with six hits and five runs over the following 2 1/3 innings, running the Yankees' starter from the game in the fifth inning.
Ian Browne has covered the Red Sox for MLB.com since 2002. Follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne and Facebook.
Craig Forde is a contributor to MLB.com based in Boston and covered the Yankees on Tuesday.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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