Happ, Ford lead Yanks to 9th straight win over Red Sox, 4-2

NEW YORK (AP) — J.A. Happ won in his return to New York’s rotation after being skipped for a turn, Mike Ford drove in three runs and the Yankees beat Boston 4-2 Sunday night for their ninth straight victory over the Red Sox, their best spurt against their rival in nearly 70 years.

Hours after second baseman DJ LeMahieu joined Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton on the injured list, Ford put New York ahead when he dumped an RBI single into short center field in the first inning, then gave the Yankees a 4-1 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Mazza (0-1) in the third.

AL East-leading New York improved to 15-6 as the schedule passed the one-third point — the equivalent 41-16 over a full season and its best start since 2003. The Yankees are 9-0 at home for the first time since 1987 and are on their longest winning streak against Boston since taking 12 in a row from Aug. 16, 1952, to April 23, 1953. New York has won 20 of its last 24 home games vs. the Red Sox and 14 of 15 against Boston overall.

Boston has been outscored 67-31 during a seven-game losing streak, dropping to an AL-worst 6-16. The skid is equivalent to 19 straight losses in a normal season.

Happ (1-1) allowed one run and three hits in 5 2/3 innings in his first home start this year, giving up Kevin Pillar’s home run down the left-field line in the third. The 37-year-old left-hander has a 6.39 ERA over three starts and 12 2/3 innings, and likely has eight starts remaining at most in the shortened season. His contract includes a $17 million option for 2021 that was to be guaranteed for either 27 starts or 165 innings, which becomes 10 starts or 61 1/3 innings.

Happ ended a five-start regular-season winless streak, getting his first victory since beating Boston last Sept. 7 and improving to 12-4 against the Red Sox by winning his fifth straight decision...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Happ-Ford-lead-Yanks-to-9th-straight-win-over-15488407.php