BOSTON — At the worst, it represents a silver lining. In the best-case scenario? It means the Yankees lost the micro of American League Division Series Game 1 while winning the macro of the series as a whole.

For the Yankees lost the game, 5-4 Friday night at Fenway Park, yet they most certainly won the battle of the bullpens.

While the Red Sox’s relievers struggled to command their pitches as they worked to protect the lead that Chris Sale and the offense built, the Yankees’ bullpen silenced the Boston offense and made a comeback attempt possible.

“The pen did a great job to allow us to get back in the game and give us a chance,” manager Aaron Boone said. “And we almost caught them.”

Starting pitcher J.A. Happ, who had shined since joining the Yankees in a July trade, fizzled in his first postseason outing for his new team. The veteran lefty gave up five runs in two-plus innings, getting the hook from Boone with no outs and runners on first and third in the bottom of the third.

Chad Green entered and allowed both inherited runners to score, yet he closed the gates from there with two shutout innings. Lance Lynn followed suit with a pair of zeroes, and Zach Britton and David Robertson each contributed a shutout frame as the Yankees slowly chipped away at their five-run deficit. Even though the Yankees’ lineup couldn’t complete the mission, they most certainly rattled the Red Sox’s relievers while Boston’s hitters did nothing of the sort the other way.

“That’s one of our ultimate strengths,” Boone said. “You know, if we’re going to get to where we want to go, you know, the bullpen is going to play a big role in that. They stepped up for us tonight and allowed us to get back in that game. And did the job they’ve pretty much done all year for us.”