New York Yankees: Yankees beat Red Sox 9-2 to split Saturday’s doubleheader

The New York Yankees split Saturday’s doubleheader with the Boston Red Sox, losing the opener 6-0 before winning the nightcap 9-2. The latest reported injury development is that rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr. left the second game with right knee discomfort and was undergoing imaging.

Yankees beat Red Sox 9-2 to split Saturday’s doubleheader

Boston took the first game 6-0, with Ceddanne Rafaela driving in a run during the Red Sox’s four-run ninth inning. The result evened the season series between the rivals at six games apiece. CBS New York

New York responded in the nightcap by scoring nine runs, including five in the eighth inning. Ben Rice drove in three runs, highlighted by a two-run single during that decisive inning. Amed Rosario added an RBI single, Austin Wells hit a two-run single, and Luis García gave the Yankees the lead with a bases-loaded groundout. Jazz Chisholm and Spencer Jones also contributed sacrifice flies. CBS New York

The Yankees scored at least seven runs for the fourth time in their previous seven games and reached nine runs for the fifth time since the All-Star break, according to the report. Rice’s tying single came in New York’s three-run third inning against Boston starter Brayan Bello, who allowed four runs and five hits in 4⅓ innings. CBS New York

Max Fried made his first start since Aug. 13 after returning from a second injured-list stint related to a bone bruise in his left elbow. He allowed one run and three hits in 3⅔ innings, striking out four and walking one while throwing 63 pitches. CBS New York

George Lombard Jr. leaves with right knee discomfort

Lombard injured the knee during a second-inning at-bat when he checked his swing on a 2-2 pitch from Bello. He grimaced and held his right knee, but stayed in the game and singled. He also batted in the third inning, flying out to left field, before leaving the game rather than taking the field in the fourth. AP

José Caballero moved from third base to shortstop, while Rosario entered at third. The Yankees said Lombard was undergoing imaging at nearby New York-Presbyterian hospital. The available reporting does not establish a diagnosis, the severity of the injury, or a timetable for his return. AP

Lombard, 21, joined the Yankees on Aug. 4 after being promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He was batting .253 with two home runs and six RBIs in 23 games since his promotion, according to AP. AP

Yankees move ahead in wild-card race

Following the split, New York moved three games ahead of Boston for the American League’s top wild-card spot, according to CBS. The teams entered the weekend separated by only a few games in that race after Boston’s strong run following its June series against New York. CBS New York The Boston Globe

The four-game series was scheduled to conclude Sunday with Boston’s Ranger Suárez facing Yankees right-hander Will Warren. CBS New York