How the Red Sox Broke a 10-Game Skid Against the Yankees

Boston trailed 4-1 entering the eighth inning, but a three-run outburst in the bottom half—sparked by a two-run triple by Hunter Renfroe and a clutch RBI single by Xander Bogaerts—knotted the game at 4-4. The Yankees threatened to extend their lead in the ninth, but a pair of Red Sox errors and a wild pitch by Yankees pitcher Devin Williams loaded the bases with one out. That set the stage for Durbin’s game-ending blast—a 430-foot shot to left-center that cleared the Green Monster and landed in the bullpen.

Key plays:

• Inning 8: Renfroe’s triple off Yankees starter Gerrit Cole (1-2) scored both runs in a 3-0 Red Sox surge.
• Inning 9: Williams’ wild pitch (3-0) loaded the bases with one out, forcing Boone to walk Durbin intentionally to avoid a potential tying run.
• Inning 10: Durbin’s grand slam (0-2) came off reliever James Kaprielian, who had entered with a 3.18 ERA this season.

Durbin’s Homer: A Career Night in the Big Leagues

Durbin, acquired from the Oakland Athletics in the offseason for minor-league prospects, became the first Red Sox player since 2018 to hit a walk-off homer in a game against the Yankees. His 430-foot shot—measured by Statcast—landed in the bullpen, just 10 feet shy of the Green Monster’s 37-foot wall. The blast gave Durbin 11 career homers, including his first two with Boston.

Durbin’s impact:

• Batted .286 with 3 HRs in 12 games since joining Boston.
• His grand slam was the first by a Red Sox rookie since 2013 (Will Middlebrooks).
• Boston’s bullpen, which had allowed 10 runs in the loss to the Yankees on May 10, held New York scoreless in the 10th.

What This Win Means for the AL East Race

The Red Sox now sit at 37-36, 3.5 games behind the Yankees (41-32) in the AL East. While the gap remains significant, Boston’s victory snaps a 10-game losing streak to New York—a stretch that had dropped them to 1-9 against their division rivals. The win also comes as the Red Sox prepare for a critical three-game series at home against the Toronto Blue Jays (May 17-19), who currently sit in third place at 36-37.

Standings impact:

Source: MLB standings as of May 15, 2025

Yankees’ Struggles Continue Under Boone

The Yankees have lost three straight games, dropping their record to 41-32. Aaron Boone’s team now sits at 14-19 since May 1, with a 4-6 record in one-run games. The loss extends New York’s struggles against left-handed pitching, with Boone’s squad now 1-7 against southpaws this season.

Yankees’ recent struggles:

• 0-3 in extra innings this month.
• Allowed 10 runs in the last two games against Boston.
• Kaprielian, who entered the 10th with a 3.18 ERA, now has a 3.45 ERA after the loss.

Next Up: Red Sox Host Blue Jays in Key Series

The Red Sox will look to build on Tuesday’s momentum with a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, starting Friday at 7:10 PM EDT (UTC-4) at Fenway Park. Toronto, currently in third place, has won six of its last eight games and will look to extend its lead over Baltimore.

Series preview:

• May 17 (Fri):** Blue Jays vs. Red Sox – 7:10 PM EDT (UTC-4)
• May 18 (Sat):** Blue Jays vs. Red Sox – 1:05 PM EDT (UTC-4)
• May 19 (Sun):** Blue Jays vs. Red Sox – 1:05 PM EDT (UTC-4)