Porcello recovers, Swihart powers Red Sox past Yankees 10-4

“I gave up a lot of runs in the first inning”.

On Tuesday, he swatted two homers – including a big three-run shot that was part of a six-run first – and drove in a career high five runs in the Red Sox’ 10-4 win over the New York Yankees. Kershaw never gave the Giants batting line-up a hint of an opening as the Dodgers set up a best-of-five playoff series next Friday against the New York Mets of the National League East. After the Yankees plated all of their runs in the first, Porcello settled down to allow only two hits over the next seven innings. “Rick just did a great job of settling in”. “He made a few really good adjustments, started to work a changeup in the mix and a curveball when he needed it”, Boston interim manager Torey Lovullo said. He said the Yankees just need a deep breath as they try to clinch a wild-card spot, as the division title is all but gone with the Blue Jays’ magic number down to one.

The Red Sox hit Michael Pineda hard early, scoring six runs in the top of the first inning before the second out was recorded. “There is no question about it. The senior guys in this room, we have to make sure that we come out and stay relaxed and play good Yankee baseball”.

“This is their playoff and they want to make an impact”, said A-Rod, who struck out twice and grounded into a double play. “We’re just going to go out and go play and do what we’re doing”, Betts said.

New York Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda shouts after Boston Red… Carlos Beltran hit an RBI double, and Dustin Ackley had a two-run homer. Yankee batters, as they have done repeatedly this season, scored in the first inning of both contests.

“(The second ball) was a chopper coming down the line and I thought one of the crew was going to grab it, but the next thing I know it’s right on me and it bounced out of my hands”, Smith said. “That definitely resonated with me”.

Jacoby Ellsbury made a bid for a go-ahead, three-run homer in the fourth but the ball was caught at the right-field fence.

Boston Red Sox Blake Swihart follows through on a three-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees in New York, Tuesday, September 29, 2015. Of course, our hero – that’s probably not the right word – saved his best (worst) for last.

“I see the ball pretty well here, ” said Swihart of Yankee Stadium.

Pierzynski hit solo home runs in the fourth and seventh inning against Washington’s Tanner Roark as the Braves earned their 63rd victory, guaranteeting they would not lose 100 games. It wasn’t that the Red Sox were bashing balls into the stands, mind you, as much as it was the fact that Pineda couldn’t get anyone out. “He’s eager to play.”…

“Blake is a very offensive-minded catcher, ” assessed Lovullo.

Still with only one out, Pineda was dangerously close to being lifted right there. “We’re just getting feedback as to how he feels and the health of his arm”.

“It was as normal as you can imagine”, Lovullo said.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello delivers in the first inning… The catcher Boston wanted to start this season, Christian Vazquez, had to undergo Tommy John surgery in Spring Training and was lost for the year. Tanaka is scheduled to start Wednesday night after being skipped for what the team described as a mild hamstring strain.