Devers' 2-run double helps Red Sox beat Yankees, stop Rodón's 7-start winning streak
By KEN POWTAK Associated Press
BOSTON - Rafael Devers hit a two-run double and the Boston Red Sox ended Carlos Rodón's seven-start winning streak by beating the New York Yankees 8-4 on Saturday night.
Tyler O'Neill and rookie Jamie Westbrook had RBI doubles in a three-run first inning for the Red Sox, who rebounded from an 8-1 loss in Friday's series opener to win before just the second sellout at Fenway Park this season.
Boston improved to 33-9 wearing their City Connect uniforms with bright yellow jerseys and powder blue lettering, including 18-5 in the past two years.
Rodón (9-3) had allowed three or fewer runs in 13 of 14 starts this season. O'Neill and Westbrook sandwiched their doubles around Connor Wong's run-scoring's single.
Rodón gave up five runs, seven hits and three walks over five innings in his first loss since May 2.
Juan Soto hit a solo homer and DJ LeMahieu had a two-run single for the major league-best Yankees (50-23), who had won nine of their previous 10 road games.
Justin Slaten (4-2) worked 2 2/3 innings of one-run relief, striking out Giancarlo Stanton swinging to stranded the bases loaded in the fifth.
Kenley Jansen got the final four outs for his 11th save in 12 chances, the 431st of his big league career.
After LeMahieu's single sliced it to 3-2 in the second against Cooper Criswell, Devers lined his double into the left-center gap in the bottom of the inning.
Soto hit his 18th homer of Slaten, an opposite-field drive that just cleared the top of the Green Monster, and caromed back onto the field in the seventh.
Boston added a pair of runs in the eighth when Jarren Duran had an RBI single and scored from third on a throwing error by catcher Jose Trevino.
Before the game the Red Sox honored the NCAA basketball champion UConn. Alex Karaban, who grew up about 30 minutes away in Southborough, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: Ace RHP Gerrit Cole returned to the club and said he was "feeling good" after his third rehab start Friday night. Manager Aaron Boone said the club would decide in the next few days if he'll join the rotation or make another rehab start.
Red Sox: OF Wilyer Abreu (right ankle sprain) ran the bases. Manager Alex Cora said he was feeling good and the team will talk next week about his potential return. ... Cora said reliever Chris Martin (anxiety) will start a rehab assignment Sunday.
UP NEXT
Yankees RHP Marcus Stroman (6-2, 2.82 ERA) is set to start Sunday night's series finale against Red Sox RHP Kutter Crawford (2-6, 3.47).
