Devers homers twice, bullpen strong as Red Sox top Yanks 6-2

BOSTON (AP) — For the second straight night, the Yankees tried to protect a one-run lead against the Red Sox.

For the second straight night, Boston found a way to rally past its longtime rival.

Rafael Devers hit two home runs, including a go-ahead blast in the fifth inning, to help the Red Sox best Yankees ace Gerrit Cole for the second time this season at Fenway Park in a 6-2 win Friday night.

Devers followed his two-run homer with a three-run shot in the seventh — the 100th of his career.

“That’s the kind of games we need in order to continue to win ballgames to be where we want to be,” Devers said through a translator. “Everybody contributed. Everybody has a role and they completed it.”

The Red Sox, who rallied from a 1-0 deficit for the second game in a row, earned their ninth victory over New York in 11 meetings this season. Boston, which has won its last four overall, has come from behind in 31 of its AL-leading 60 wins. The Red Sox also maintained their one-game AL East lead over Tampa Bay and increased their lead to nine games over the third-place Yankees.

Yacksel Rios (3-0) got the victory, pitching two scoreless innings to cap a strong night from the bullpen after starter Eduardo Rodriguez left in the second inning after experiencing migraine symptoms. Five Boston relievers combined to allow one run off four hits the rest of the way.

“It was a team effort from top to bottom," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "We didn’t win the game early on, but we were winning innings.”

Cole (10-5) started strong for New York, but was pulled after five innings, giving up three runs off six hits, striking out eight and walking two. He has surrendered five home runs at Fenway this season.

“They did make him work. That's the one thing they did,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Devers-homers-twice-bullpen-strong-as-Red-Sox-16336642.php