ALDS Recap: Boston Hangs On in 9th to Advance

Game 4 of the American League Division Series between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees took place on Tuesday night. Boston came into the game with a 2-1 lead in the series looking to advance to the American League Championship Series.

Red Sox 4, Yankees 3

W: Porcello L: Sabathia S: Kimbrel

Red Sox Win Series 3-1

Player of the Game: Chris Sale (Hold, 1.0 IP, 0 R, 1 SO)

New York sent veteran SP CC Sabathia to the mound looking to shut down the opposition. He ran into trouble early, allowing the Red Sox to load the bases with 2 outs in the 1st inning, but escaped the jam. Boston ultimately broke through with 3 runs in the 3rd. Sabathia got through the inning but was removed from the game for RP Zach Britton in the 4th. The Yanks starter finished with 3 runs allowed in 3.0 IP on 5 hits with 2 BB and 1 SO.

The Red Sox scored again in the top of the 4th on a solo shot by C Christian Vázquez, and the Bronx Bombers mustered a single run on a sacrifice fly by OF Brett Gardner to score C Gary Sánchez. Chris Sale, normally a starting pitcher for the Sawx, came into the game in relief in the 8th inning, shutting down the Yanks offense and keeping them from chipping away at the Boston lead. This ultimately proved to be key, as closer Craig Kimbrel nearly blew the save opportunity by allowing 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th. The first run came in when Kimbrel hit INF Neil Walker with the bases loaded to score OF Aaron Judge, and the second came on a sacrifice fly by Sánchez that scored INF Didi Gregorius for the second out of the inning. Walker represented the winning run, but the Yankees failed to bring in either the tying or winning run. A ground ball hit to third by INF Gleyber Torres thrown to first to record the out ended the game. The play was close and challenged by Yankees manager Aaron Boone, but the call was ultimately upheld on review, allowing Boston to advance to the American League Championship Series.

Boston will face the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the ALCS at Fenway Park starting at 8:09 PM ET on Saturday, following NLCS Game 2 between the Dodgers and Brewers in Milwaukee to begin at 4:09 PM ET.