Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel entered Wednesday’s game against the Yankees in the bottom of the eighth looking to protect a one-run lead for the first five-out save of his career.
As has happened so frequently lately, it didn’t work out for the Red Sox — and it did for the Yankees.
Kimbrel gave up a two-run triple to Brett Gardner, followed by a two-run homer to Aaron Judge, as the Yankees rallied for a 9-6 win in The Bronx.
“It seems like they’re doing all the small things at the right time,” Kimbrel said after his second blown save in his past four chances. “They’ve gotten us these first two games. Hopefully we get them [Thursday].”
Kimbrel said he had no issue with new manager Alex Cora going to him in the eighth inning, which he has struggled with in the past.
Cora said they wanted Kimbrel to face Gardner even before the inning began. Gardner entered the at-bat just 1-for-6 with five strikeouts against the right-hander. Judge was hitless in three previous at-bats versus Kimbrel, with a pair of strikeouts.
Kimbrel fell behind Gardner 3-0 before getting it to a full count. Gardner then belted a triple over center fielder Mookie Betts to give the Yankees the lead. Judge added some insurance by hitting one out to center — the third homer Kimbrel has allowed in 16 appearances this season after giving up six in 67 outings last year.
Kimbrel’s last save of more than an inning came against the Yankees on Aug. 13 in a 3-2, 10-inning Red Sox win in The Bronx. Kimbrel was scored upon in seven such outings in 2017.
In six appearances at Yankee Stadium, Kimbrel has given up six runs — all earned — in 5 ¹/₃ innings.
Whether Cora opts to use Kimbrel again in the eighth remains to be seen, but the rookie manager will no doubt be cautioned by Wednesday’s result.
Cora didn’t have many other options, with his bullpen taxed both Tuesday and Wednesday night.
With the win, the Yankees knocked the Red Sox out of first place in the AL East for the first time since March 31 — despite the Yankees having trailed Boston by 7 ½ games as recently as April 20.
“At this point, I don’t think any of us are thinking about the 7½-game lead,’’ Kimbrel said. “We’re focused on playing good baseball. As long as we do that, we’ll be right there with them all year. We knew it was gonna be close throughout the entire year. … You hate to lose games like this, but we’re not worried about them. We’re worried about us.”
The Red Sox will turn to Eduardo Rodriguez on Thursday to try to prevent a Yankees’ sweep, as their incredible 17-2 start to the season slips further into the past.
