Cody Bellinger’s tiebreaking homer sparked a five-run eighth as the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 6-1 on Sunday, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. capping the burst using a three-run drive. Trent Grisham added an RBI single, Tim Hill delivered a perfect eighth
NEW YORK — Cody Bellinger didn’t just swing for power; he turned a tight score into a knockout. In the eighth inning, his tiebreaking homer carried Justin Slaten’s 0-3 pitch into the right-center seats to put the Yankees ahead 2-1. From there, New York barely looked back.
The banged-up Yankees turned the moment into momentum. Trent Grisham followed with an RBI single, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. finished the work with a three-run drive on a cutter against Joe La Sorsa. By the time the five-run eighth inning ended, the scoreboard told the story: New York 6-1 over Boston.
Tim Hill then sealed it with a perfect eighth, and the result mattered beyond the final score. The Yankees won Sunday’s game to split the rain-shortened, two-game series and moved within percentage points of first-place Tampa Bay (37-25), which has led the AL East since May 10.
The win also came without three key regulars. Aaron Judge (fractured rib), Giancarlo Stanton (calf strain) and Austin Wells (cervical headaches) are all on the injured list. In the five games without Judge, New York is batting .226 with 19 runs.
Pitching provided a steadier kind of comfort. Yankees starter Cam Schlittler pitched against the team he rooted for growing up, and he stayed composed from the start. He dropped his ERA to 1.87 with his ninth start. allowing no runs or one. and he gave up an RBI double with two outs in the sixth to his last batter. Willson Contreras.
His velocity told another small story. Schlittler’s four-seam fastball averaged 97.5 m.p.h., down from 99.6 m.p.h. on May 4 but up from 96.8 m.p.h. in his previous start Tuesday against Cleveland.
New York’s offense found its footing in multiple spots. José Caballero doubled in the fifth and scored when Paul Goldschmidt lofted an opposite-field RBI single to right just in front of Wilyer Abreu, who nearly made a sliding, backhand grab.
Boston starter Ranger Suárez struggled to find consistency of late, and Sunday followed that same pattern. He is 0-1 in six starts since April 27, and he gave up one run and six hits in 6.1 innings.
On the catching side, New York had to shuffle. With Wells sidelined, Ali Sánchez started and went 0-for-2 in his Yankees debut.
Boston also had its own debut moments. Second baseman Anthony Siegler had a double and a walk in his Yankee Stadium debut. He was drafted 23rd overall by New York in 2018 and allowed to become a free agent after the 2024 season.
Jasson Domínguez remained sidelined after May 7 due to a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder, but the Yankees could see him again during their upcoming trip to Cleveland and Toronto that starts Monday.
The next games are set with the usual mix of opportunity and pressure. Connelly Early (5-3, 3.26 ERA) starts Monday’s series opener for the Red Sox at Tampa Bay.
For New York, Will Warren (7-1, 3.22 ERA) will open Monday’s game against Cleveland, facing Gavin Williams (9-3, 3.20).
Yankees vs Red Sox Cody Bellinger homer Jazz Chisholm Jr. Tim Hill perfect eighth Cam Schlittler Trent Grisham RBI single Ranger Suarez 6.1 innings