Overview
- Boston routed New York 12-1 for its eighth straight win over the Yankees, moving to 71-59 and 1.5 games ahead of 69-60 New York for the top AL wild-card spot.
- Garrett Crochet struck out 11 over seven innings, and a seven-run ninth off Paul Blackburn — aided by Anthony Volpe’s throwing error and a Carlos Narváez two-run homer — blew the game open.
- The Yankees are 1-8 against Boston this season and 3-7 against Toronto, with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton labeling the skid against top AL East opponents unacceptable.
- In Baltimore, the Astros edged the Orioles 9-8 on Saturday on Christian Walker’s two-run seventh-inning homer after using seven bullpen innings, with Lance McCullers Jr. limited to four frames Friday in his return from a finger blister as Houston juggles six starters and a seven-man bullpen.
- The Orioles claimed Sunday’s finale 3-2 behind Trevor Rogers’ seven one-run innings, while Houston got an encouraging six-inning, two-run start from Spencer Arrighetti and a scoreless debut appearance from newly signed reliever Craig Kimbrel.