rewrite this content and keep HTML tags
BOSTON — Despite Friday at times feeling like it, October is still a few weeks away.
But before then, if nothing else, the Yankees proved they can, in fact, win a game at Fenway Park — a big one at that.
Backed by Luis Gil throwing six no-hit innings, Aaron Judge passing Joe DiMaggio on the club’s all-time home run list and some late contributions elsewhere, the Yankees knocked off the Red Sox 4-1 in front of a sellout crowd on a crisp night at Fenway Park.
After suffering through eight straight losses to the Red Sox (81-67) earlier this year — including a three-game sweep here in June — the Yankees (82-65) have won back-to-back games against their rival while creating a one-game lead over them atop the AL wild-card standings.
For six innings, Gil’s command gave him more of a fight than Red Sox hitters did. He flirted with history, but did not get a shot to finish it because, with four walks and plenty of deep counts, it took him 93 pitches to complete six innings.
The Red Sox broke up the combined no-hit attempt with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, when No. 8 hitter Nate Eaton drilled a first-pitch home run over the Green Monster off Fernando Cruz.
But the bullpen held strong from there, as Devin Williams worked around a leadoff single to retire the heart of the order in the eighth inning before David Bednar struck out a pair in the ninth for the save.
The Yankees kept pace with the Blue Jays (who hold the tiebreaker over them), remaining three games back of first place in the AL East with 15 games to play.
A night after going deep twice to tie DiMaggio on the all-time Yankees homer list, Judge flew past him with a mammoth shot in the first inning. He clobbered a 442-foot blast off Lucas Giolito that sailed onto Lansdowne Street for his 362nd career home run, climbing into sole possession of fourth place. He trails only Lou Gehrig (493), Mickey Mantle (536) and Babe Ruth (659).
Judge’s fourth home run in his past four games gave him 47 on the season, 19 of which have come in the first inning, breaking the major league single-season record.
The Yankees tacked on another run in the third after the Red Sox thought the inning was already over. Judge had drawn a two-out walk before Ben Rice hit a fly ball to left field that appeared to be the third out. But instead ex-Yankee Carlos Narváez was called for catcher’s interference on the play, allowing Rice to reach safely.
Cody Bellinger came up next and roped an 0-2 pitch over the shortstop to score Judge for the 2-0 lead.
The Yankees doubled their lead in the seventh inning, thanks in part to the speed of José Caballero, who was starting a third game at shortstop over Anthony Volpe. He drilled a one-out, ground-rule double to right field before stealing third on the first pitch to Ryan McMahon. Then with the infield in, McMahon hit a grounder to second base, where David Hamilton made a diving stab and fired home, but not in time to get Caballero, who scored to make it 3-0.
One out later, the Red Sox intentionally walked Judge to bring up Rice against lefty reliever Justin Wilson. Rice won the left-on-left matchup, lining a single up the middle to put the Yankees ahead 4-0.
The Yankees had a chance to add on in the top of the eighth inning, but made more outs on the bases. With pinch-runner Jasson Domínguez on first base and no outs, Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a ground ball to the right side that looked like it was going to get through for a single. Except it ended up hitting Domínguez’s back foot on his way to second, resulting in an out.
Chisholm eventually stole second and took third on a wild pitch, then tried to score on a shallow fly ball to right field. But Eaton threw him out at the plate, which the Yankees challenged, to no avail.
