Inside The Pinstripes

Yankees Still Can't Beat Red Sox, Drop Fifth Straight to Start Season

The New York Yankees lost their fifth straight against the Boston Red Sox, extending their winless start to the season against their American League East rival

Max Goodman

Baseball's best rivalry couldn't be more one-sided this season.

The Yankees fell once again to the Red Sox on Saturday night, dropping to 0-5 against Boston in 2021.

Stifled by Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi, who twirled 7.2 innings of one-run ball, the Yankees were nearly shutout. DJ LeMahieu chased the right-hander with a solo shot in the top of the eighth, but that wasn't enough in a 4-2 loss. 

New York made it interesting in that eighth inning, loading the bases on three consecutive two-out walks with Hirokazu Sawamura on the mound. Ex-Yankees reliever Adam Ottavino came in from the bullpen and extinguished the rally, though, getting Luke Voit to ground out to shortstop and end the threat.

LeMahieu added an RBI single off Ottavino with two outs in the ninth, but the right-hander eventually shut the door, clinching a second-consecutive series victory over their rivals.

As much as the Yankees' offense had turned a bit of a corner in recent weeks, winning seven of their last nine games entering this series, the offense was once again unable to string hits together. New York had nine scattered knocks on the night, four coming from LeMahieu, but the second baseman's opposite-field blast in the eighth was their lone extra-base hit.

The final five spots in the Yankees' order combined to go 1-for-19 with four strikeouts and eight men left on base.

What's interesting about New York's struggles against Boston to start the year is how the scales were tipped in the opposite direction a season ago.

The Yankees went 9-1 against Boston in 2020, going 7-0 at Yankee Stadium and 2-1 at Fenway Park. Their .900 winning percentage in 2020—albeit in a shortened season due to the pandemic—was the highest season-series winning percentage over the Sox in franchise history. 

A tough stretch to start the campaign doesn't necessarily indicate the worst-case scenario for this team in 2021. The Bombers will have 14 more opportunities to defeat Boston this summer, ample chances to make up some ground in the American League East.

In fact, in the months before New York won their 27th World Series title, the Yankees started the 2009 season 0-8 against the Red Sox, their worst start against Boston in franchise history. They went on to win nine of the final 10 games between these two teams, gathering momentum before a deep run in the postseason.  

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Max Goodman
MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Yankees for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. Goodman has been on the Yankees beat for three seasons. He is also the publisher of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Jets site, Jets Country. Before starting Inside The Pinstripes, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. At school, Goodman was an anchor and reporter with NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. While at Northwestern, Goodman interned with MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman. You can connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.

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