BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox found themselves down 5-2 to the Yankees again.
But instead of one dramatic ninth-inning comeback – like on Thursday – the Red Sox came back earlier with a couple runs here and there.
“This was a little more methodical,” Boston Manager John Farrell said.
The result was the same. Boston scored two runs in the fifth and two more in the seventh to secure a 6-5 victory over New York on Saturday, before 37,267 at Fenway Park.
Xander Bogaerts paced Boston with a two-run homer and two doubles. Mookie Betts, who singled in the tying run, scored the game-winner by racing home on a wild pitch.
It was Boston’s third straight win over the Yankees, keeping the Red Sox (84-64) at least two games ahead in the American League East, while New York (77-71) dropped seven games back.
“We’re playing a really good brand of baseball right now,” said reliever Matt Barnes. “If we continue doing what we’re doing, we’ll be just fine.”
Barnes (4-3) got the win with 11/3 hitless innings. He gave way to Craig Kimbrel, who recorded his 27th save, striking out all four batters he faced.
The once-maligned Boston bullpen pitched three scoreless innings Saturday and has the major’s best bullpen ERA (1.06) in September.
The bullpen followed David Price, who put Boston into a hole early, allowing five runs through four innings. Brett Gardner’s RBI triple, a Gary Sanchez two-run homer and Austin Romine’s two-run double did the damage.
But the Yankees have seen leads vanish before against Boston.
“This is the best lineup in the game right now,” Yankees Manager Joe Girardi said of the Red Sox.
Bogaerts played a role in every rally.
In second inning, he doubled in Andrew Benintendi and later scored on David Ortiz’s groundout.
In the fourth, Bogaerts came up with two outs and a runner on. Yankees starter Bryan Mitchell fired in a 95 mph fastball about six inches inside.
“Too much inside. I had no right to be swinging at that pitch,” Bogaerts said.
But Bogaerts did swing, and clubbed it over the left-field wall. It was his 20th home run and cut the lead to 5-4.
Bogaerts came in to Saturday’s game slumping – .255 average since the All-Star break, and 4 for 21 on this homestand.
“It was frustrating but I never doubted myself,” Bogaerts said. “I hopefully have figured it out.”
Bogaerts said the solution is to square up his stance more, and hit more balls to center and right-center.
That is what Bogaerts did to lead off the seventh, sending a fastball to the triangle in right center for a double.
Bogaerts reached third on Ortiz’s fly-out. New York brought its infield in and Mookie’s Betts bounced an RBI single over the reach of shortstop Didi Gregorius, tying the game 5-5.
Hanley Ramirez followed with a single. Both Betts and Ramirez advanced on Travis Shaw’s groundout to first.
With Sandy Leon up, Adam Warren (3-2) bounced a wild pitch that just got past Romine.
“Being the go-ahead run, I want to be aggressive,” Betts said. “I had a good read on the ball.”
Betts scored easily for a 6-5 lead. Ramirez also tried to score and was tagged out.
The Red Sox are a step closer to the playoffs, as New York nears elimination.
“Red Sox-Yankees is always a great rivalry,” Betts said. “Knowing that it’s for the playoffs makes it that much more fun.”
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