Controversial call dooms Red Sox as Yankees clinch season series

There’s still a month of baseball left to play, but it’s possible the events that transpired in the fifth inning on Sunday could swing the AL wild-card race decisively in New York’s favor.

With the game scoreless and a runner at first, Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a sinking line drive to center field. Ceddanne Rafaela made what appeared to be a fantastic diving catch, but first base umpire Edwin Moscoso ruled that the ball hit the ground before Rafaela could complete the grab, and that decision wound up standing upon replay review.

Instead of potentially converting a double play, things snowballed and the Red Sox wound up conceding five runs in the inning.

The Yankees went on to win 16-1, and in doing so they captured more than just the weekend series victory.

With Sunday’s win the Yankees clinched the season series 7-6, ensuring that if they finish tied in the standings with the Red Sox they would own the tiebreaker. That means Sunday’s loss was effectively a three-game swing for the Red Sox, who could have moved within two games of the Yankees but instead will have to make up five games of ground in September if they hope to jump New York and host a playoff series.

“Everybody was surprised about that call,” said Red Sox starter Ranger Suarez via interpreter Carlos Villoria Benítez. “That’s a game-changing play and after that everything changed.”

One silver lining for the Red Sox is they got two key players back from injury, and both looked good in their return.

Roman Anthony went 2 for 4 in his first game since May 4, including a ground rule double to lead off the game in his first at bat back. Trevor Story went 2 for 3 in his return, including a double in the top of the eighth.

Through the first five innings those two were the only Red Sox hitters who were able to touch Yankees starter Will Warren.

Ranger Suarez pitched well through the first four innings himself, but after Rafaela’s near-catch he came unglued. The Yankees sent nine men to the plate, and following Chisholm’s hit Ali Sanchez moved the runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, setting the table for Paul Goldschmidt to put the Yankees ahead with a weakly hit two-run single up the middle.

If things ended there it might not have been a disaster, but then Suarez allowed a three-run home run to Heliot Ramos, which felt in the moment like a back-breaker.

Suarez wound up being charged with six runs over 5 1/3 innings, the last coming on a sacrifice fly by Austin Wells in the sixth off Greg Weissert that scored one of Suarez’s inherited runners.

“At this stage of the season you have to limit damage, that’s one of the things you have to do to keep the team in the game and give the boys an opportunity come back in the game,” Suarez said. “I feel like today this game was on me, I didn’t give the opportunity to the boys to win the game today.”

The Yankees added an RBI single by Amed Rosario in the seventh and erupted for nine runs in the eighth, including on back-to-back home runs by Austin Wells and Goldschmidt before teeing off on Andruw Monasterio when the infielder took the mound.

But in truth, the way Boston’s bats were hitting it may not have mattered even if the pitching hadn’t laid an egg.

Warren smothered the Red Sox over seven-plus dominant innings, allowing one run on six hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. The Red Sox only real scoring chance early came in the first when Anthony doubled and Wilyer Abreu walked, but Warren struck out Willson Contreras and Adley Rutschman to keep Boston off the board.

The Red Sox didn’t have another runner reach second base until the sixth inning, and they didn’t finally score until the game was already well out of reach. Story led off the eighth with a double and Nick Sogard drove him in with an RBI single, but that was as close as Boston got.

Now the Red Sox (74-63) have a month to get their offense back on track before a likely rematch with the Yankees (78-59) in October, which barring a big September surge will probably be right back at Yankee Stadium again.

Rafaela shaken up

While his near-catch was under review Rafaela was checked by the trainer after he appeared to tweak his neck or shoulder on the dive. Rafaela remained in the game, but he was uncharacteristically frustrated for the remainder of the inning, appearing at one point to shout at the first base umpire following Goldschmidt’s go-ahead single and later holding up his glove after making a routine grab in center field.

Gasper, Seigler optioned

To clear space on the roster for the returning Anthony and Story, the Red Sox announced pregame that they’d optioned Mickey Gasper and Anthony Seigler to Triple-A Worcester. Gasper had been white hot over the past two weeks since being called back up to the majors, hitting five home runs in 11 games, and Seigler has been a key contributor throughout Boston’s two-month run of success.

Upcoming starters

The Red Sox announced Payton Tolle will start Monday’s series opener against the Seattle Mariners, Patrick Sandoval will pitch Wednesday and Tuesday’s starter remains to be determined. Sonny Gray would normally be in line to pitch that day, but Tracy told reporters pregame Sunday that they’re still talking through who will start. According to MassLive’s Christopher Smith, Tracy was also asked if anything was wrong with Gray physically and he said he’s good.

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