Mike Yastrzemski Homers In Fenway Debut, Giants Beat Red Sox In 15, 7-6
BOSTON (AP) — Mike Yastrzemski rounded the bases to the cheers of the Fenway Park fans after hitting a solo homer for San Francisco — like his grandfather heard numerous times during his illustrious career with the Red Sox.
The 29-year-old grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski hit his homer in his first game in Fenway, and Alex Dickerson had a pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the 15th inning to lift the Giants to a 7-6 victory over Boston on Tuesday night.
Brandon Belt also had a solo homer for the Giants, who posted their first victory in Fenway after going 0-5 in interleague play. The New York Giants beat the Red Sox twice in the 1912 World Series, the year Fenway opened. They also defeated the Boston Braves in Fenway during the 1914 and '15 seasons.
"I was just excited being able to do that before friends and family," Mike Yastrzemski said. "The crowd reactions, all night, were incredible. I can't thank them enough for being supportive."
The game featured a major-league record-tying 24 pitchers — including a team-record 13 by the Giants — and had 50 players overall, lasting 5 hours, 54 minutes. "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" was played in the middle of the 14th inning.
"I wanted to get my 10,000 steps in," Bochy joked of the changes. "I was a little behind."
The Giants' pitchers threw 294 pitches to Boston's 253.
Bochy, who is retiring at the end of the season, moved one win away from becoming the 11th big-league manager to reach 2,000 victories.
Donovan Solano opened the 15th with a ground-rule double against Trevor Kelley (0-2) and advanced on a wild pitch before the Dickerson's sac fly.
Dickerson (oblique) was not in the starting lineup. Bochy said before the game that he'd likely be in Wednesday, and, he was, pinch hitting at 12:50 a.m.
"I don't know if I can play him in a doubleheader," Bochy said, smiling.
Dereck Rodriguez (6-9) worked two innings for the victory.
Brandon Crawford's RBI double had given the Giants the lead in the 13th before Boston's pinch hitter Juan Centeno drew a bases-loaded walk off Kyle Barraclough, the Giants' fourth pitcher of the inning.
Yastrzemski hit a 95.8 mph fastball from Nathan Eovaldi into the center-field bleachers for his 20th of the season, getting a nice ovation — many standing — as he circled the bases when his shot made it 5-1 in the fourth. He finished 2 for 7 with a double, walk and three strikeouts.
"It's a special moment," Bochy said of the homer. "A lot of attention with him coming here. . Number 20, that's quite the night for the kid."
His teammates were excited in the dugout.
"I was so happy for him," Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb said.
Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a solo homer and drove in two runs for the Red Sox.
Even Eovaldi could appreciate the moment for the younger Yaz.
"Yeah, it's cool," he said. "And I mean you see our fans, too, they give him a really good welcome. Cool experience."
The Yastrzemskis walked Fenway's outfield grass before the game and Mike played left field, where his grandfather shined and captured seven Gold Gloves during his 23-year career, all with the Red Sox.
Carl, who turned 80 in August, retired in 1983 after collecting 3,419 hits, including 452 homers and over 1,800 RBIs. In 1967, he won the AL MVP when he captured the Triple Crown. He was inducted into the Hall in 1989 and the Red Sox dedicated a statue of him outside the right-field entrance in 2013.
STAR STRUCK
Bochy said it was an honor to meet Carl Yastrzemski before the game.
"I'm with a Hall of Famer that I grew up trying to impersonate as a hitter as a kid, and there he was in my office," he said. "That's a cool moment. I'm like anybody that grew up idolizing these guys when you have a chance to meet him."
GLOVE WORK
Boston's Marco Hernández saved a run with diving stop on Donovan Solano's grounder in the 10th and CF Brady made a leaping grab on Belt's drive in the 12th.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: Bochy said C Buster Posey "could use a day" because of tightness in back and hip area.
Red Sox: Manager Alex Cora said LHP David Price (cyst left wrist) could undergo surgery for it during the offseason. "That's something we're going to talk about," Cora said. Price hasn't pitched since Sept. 1. ... OF Mookie Betts missed his third straight game with inflammation in his left foot. ... J.D. Martinez was removed was left groin tightness and Sam Travis left after getting hit in the head - after his helmet popped off - by a throw on a headfirst slide into third on his triple.
UP NEXT
RHP Jeff Samardzija (10-12, 3.72 ERA) is set to start Wednesday for the Giants. RHP Jhoulys Chacín (3-10, 5.44) is slated to go for the Red Sox.
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