New York Yankees: instant thoughts vs. the Boston Red Sox

Ramirez finished with a pair of RBIs after the ninth-inning rally, and left fielder Alejandro De Aza drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to right.

David Ortiz was out sick when the Boston Red Sox were trying to gain some ground against their AL East rivals.

Johnson, a first-round pick in the 2012 draft, positioned himself for a call-up with his performance for the PawSox in the first half of the season. So on Sunday they honored the man’s legacy by having Babe Ruth’s daughter, 98-year-old Julia Ruth Stevens, throw out the first pitch before their game against-who else?-the Yankees. With this home run, McCann has number 14 on the year – a feat he didn’t get until August 19 last season. Jacoby Ellsbury was then picked off for the third out of the third inning after he had singled.

“No, I’m not sure what’s going to happen”, Refsnyder said after getting his first hit and first home run in his second game in the majors. Red s vs Marlins are 1-5 in the top of the seventh.

“They bunched some hits together”, Red Sox manager John Farrell said.

Gardner led off with a slow chopper to second base for an infield single, then Rodriguez lined a double to center to make it 4-3.

Brian McCann also had two hits, including a two-run homer.

In Cleveland, All-Star Sonny Gray pitched a two-hit shutout and allowed only three base runners.

Nationals: Washington returns from the break Friday to launch a three-game series against the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. Ramirez greeted him with a double to left-center field.

They managed to cut into that immediately in the bottom of the inning, with Hanley and Victorino combining to produce a fourth Boston run. Napoli was hitting. 190 for the season prior to that at-bat and just.

Joe Girardi said he never considered removing Refsnyder for defense late in the game. Justin Wilson replaced Adam Warren and, with two on, retired Ryan Hanigan and Mookie Betts to end the threat.

In the top of the eight, Gardner’s double scored Ellsbury.

The Sox had a runner on in the seventh and eighth innings, but were unable to score thanks to the dominant pitching of reliever Dellin Betances, who is headed to his second All-Star Game.

Clay Buchholz, who has allowed a total of just three earned runs over his last four starts, has won four consecutive starts for the first time since a five-start win streak May 22 – September 15, 2013.

As he stood by his locker a few hours before first pitch, Refsnyder admitted he would likely have some nerves Saturday night.

Cabrera was hurt running the bases in the second inning of Saturday’s 3-0 victory over the Astros.

Boston had hoped to cut further into a deficit that had been 10 games three weeks ago, but the Yankees won two out of three over the weekend to leave the last-place Red Sox 6½ back.