Yankees’ disastrous Fenway weekend marks first since 1914

The New York Yankees closed out a miserable weekend with a 5-4 extra-inning loss Sunday night at Fenway Park, completing a four-game sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox amid one of the worst offensive stretches in franchise history.

Boston right-hander Sonny Gray stifled his former team, carrying a no-hitter into the eighth inning before Amed Rosario broke it up with a one-out single. Gray also reached a career milestone during the outing, striking out Spencer Jones for his 2,000th career strikeout. The 36-year-old finished with one hit allowed, one walk and nine strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings while throwing 97 pitches, including 64 strikes, lowering his ERA to 2.69.

Gray’s performance continued an impressive run since returning from a right hamstring strain. Over his last 10 starts, he has gone 7-0 with a 2.08 ERA after recording a 4.30 ERA before landing on the injured list. The Red Sox’ rotation has also recorded 11 consecutive quality starts, compiling a 7-1 record with a 1.51 ERA during that stretch, the team’s longest run since 14 straight quality starts in April 1988.

Even after being held hitless until the eighth inning, New York rallied with two runs in the ninth against All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman to tie the game, helped by a throwing error from Wilyer Abreu. The Yankees then scored twice in the 10th, including an RBI single from Rosario after another Abreu error.

Boston answered immediately in the bottom half. Anthony Seigler drove in the automatic runner before Masataka Yoshida doubled and Tsung-Che Cheng tied the game with a sacrifice fly. After New York shifted Rosario from left field into a five-man infield, Jarren Duran lined the game-winning hit into uncovered right field to complete the Red Sox comeback. Justin Slaten earned the win, while Fernando Cruz took the loss after being unable to protect the Yankees lead.

New York finished the game with only three hits, went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left four runners on base. It was only the third time in franchise history that the Yankees managed three hits or fewer in three consecutive games, joining the 1908 and 1914 teams.

The sweep was Boston’s first four-game sweep of New York since 2018 and its first four-game winning streak of the season. Meanwhile, the Yankees, who entered Fenway Park with the American League’s best record, left the series trailing the Tampa Bay Rays by one game in the AL East after dropping eight of their last 11 contests.

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