NEW YORK — The big-name Boston Red Sox got a lift from their unheralded Venezuelan battery to win their season-high sixth straight game.
Sandy Leon homered and drove in four runs, Eduardo Rodriguez again dominated the Yankees in his return from Triple-A, and Boston beat New York 5-2 on Saturday.
Leon hit his second homer this season and the third of his career in the sixth inning – a three-run shot off CC Sabathia for a 5-1 lead. The catcher has 13 RBI in 20 games this year after compiling only eight in 75 career games before that. He’s hitting .458 through 59 at-bats this season. “He looks different now,” Rodriguez said. “He hits the ball everywhere.”
Leon also helped his countryman hold New York to a run and four hits over seven innings after the Red Sox recalled the left-hander from the minors Friday. Rodriguez (2-3) improved to 4-1 with a 2.01 ERA against Boston’s archrival.
Rodriguez opened the season on the disabled list with a knee injury, then posted an 8.59 ERA in six starts before being demoted to Triple-A Pawtucket. Boston believed Rodriguez was telegraphing his pitches and had him adjust his delivery during two starts in the minors.
“Now, I’m not thinking about the tipping stuff,” Rodriguez said. “I just throw the ball right where I want it.”
Rodriguez threw 97 pitches Saturday, working quickly against New York’s veteran-heavy lineup. Rodriguez had previously struggled throwing to Leon, posting an 8.03 ERA in five starts, but the duo cruised early on a steady diet of fastballs and sliders.
“His seven innings today is potentially a major shot in the arm for our rotation,” Manager John Farrell said.
Sabathia (5-7) allowed five runs, four earned, in 51/3 innings, giving up five or more runs for the fifth straight start.
Leon added an RBI single in the fourth. His hot hitting has been timely for Boston, with catchers Blake Swihart, Christian Vazquez and Ryan Hanigan going on the disabled list this season. The 27-year-old went into the All-Star break batting .455 (25 for 55), the highest first-half average ever in the majors, with a minimum of 50 at-bats.
“Playing almost like four times a week, I think that’s helped,” Leon said.
Jackie Bradley Jr. tied a season high with three hits, and Boston’s 6-through-9 hitters went 7 for 16 to help the Red Sox win their eighth in nine games and 10th in the past 13.
NOTES: Clay Buchholz has been moved to the bullpen to clear space in the rotation for newly acquired All-Star Drew Pomeranz. The Red Sox hope to keep Buchholz stretched out with multiple-inning outings and possibly a simulated game next week.
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