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Digital Sports Desk

Crawford Powers Seattle Over Sox

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FENWAY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The visiting Seattle Mariners rode a pair of four-run innings to an 8-3 win over the Boston Red Sox in the rubber game of their three-game series on Wednesday. J.P. Crawford went 3-for-3 with two runs scored to lead four multi-hit performances for Seattle (66-74). Jhonny Pereda had two RBI and scored another run on his 2-for-3 day.

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All of the Mariners’ runs came in the third and sixth innings.

Seattle used four relievers behind Bryce Miller, who scattered seven hits in 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball. Cooper Criswell (3-2) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn the win.

Roman Anthony (home run) and Wilyer Abreu (two doubles, run) logged three hits apiece for the Red Sox (75-65), who went just 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position on the way to their sixth loss in eight games.

Both teams had 12 hits.

Boston starter Patrick Sandoval (1-4) did not record an out in the fifth inning, allowing four runs (three earned) and five hits.

The Red Sox started fast with three straight one-out singles in the first inning, but could not score after a relay from Seattle left fielder Randy Arozarena to Pereda cut down Mickey Gasper at home on Abreu’s knock.

After two 1-2-3 innings from Sandoval, the visitors broke it open for a 4-0 lead in the third. Weston Wilson and J.P. Crawford opened the rally with back-to-back singles, and a wild pitch brought Wilson home.

Dominic Canzone extended the inning with a two-out walk, leading to Julio Rodriguez’s line-drive RBI single to center. Josh Naylor dropped his own run-scoring hit into a left-center field gap before left fielder Jarren Duran’s errant throw in allowed Rodriguez to slide in at home to cap off the frame.

The Red Sox broke onto the scoreboard on Trevor Story’s two-out, ground-rule double down the left-field line in the fourth. Abreu led off the inning with his own double off the Green Monster.

After Miller departed, Jose A. Ferrer extinguished Boston’s second straight threat with two runners in scoring position.

In the sixth, the Mariners loaded the bases with just one hit before Pereda drove a two-run single through the middle. Arozarena followed with an RBI single to the base of the left-field wall before Canzone ripped a double off it in center.

The Red Sox made another dent in the seventh. Anthony lined a one-out, opposite-field homer to left, and Gasper and Eli White combined for back-to-back doubles, bringing in another run.

–Field Level Media

Mariners Swinging Hot Bats vs Sox

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FENWAY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Hanging on the fringe of the American League playoff race, the Seattle Mariners will look for a series win when they meet the host Boston Red Sox on Wednesday afternoon. Seattle (65-74) has 17 runs on 25 hits in the first two games of the series, quickly brushing aside a previous four-game stretch during which the team was shut out twice and scored just four runs.

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Randy Arozarena hit his second home run in as many games in the Mariners’ 9-6 win on Tuesday, giving him seven RBIs in the series. Dominic Canzone and Lazaro Montes also went deep for Seattle, with the latter recording a multi-hit, multi-RBI game in his MLB debut.

“His energy is already felt,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said of Montes, 21, the organization’s No. 5 prospect.

Montes, who helped Seattle snap a five-game losing streak, became the first Mariner to record multiple hits in his MLB debut since Hall of Fame outfielder Ichiro Suzuki in 2001.

“I can’t describe how I feel in this moment right now. But I feel like I made it,” Montes said.

The Mariners on Wednesday will start right-hander Bryce Miller (4-8, 4.12 ERA), who has allowed five or more runs in three straight starts and had been set for a short-term return to the bullpen before an injury to Emerson Hancock (adductor) earlier this week.

Miller labored through 4 1/3 innings on a season-high 104 pitches on Aug. 23 against the Chicago Cubs, allowing six runs on two homers and seven walks in a 19-2 loss.

“I acknowledge that the last couple of outings definitely haven’t gone how I wanted them to. I think that just comes down to executing a pitch here, a pitch there, and getting outs … in the high-leverage situations,” Miller said.

He has lost all four of his career starts against Boston (0-4, 6.64 ERA), although he tossed five one-run innings on June 19.

A night after rallying for a 9-8, series-opening win in 10 innings, the Red Sox (75-64) made things interesting again on Tuesday, scoring the final five runs to trim a 9-1 deficit. However, it was too little, too late in their fifth loss in seven games.

Before Eli White and Jahmai Jones drove in two runs apiece to force in Seattle closer Andres Munoz on Tuesday, Mickey Gasper continued an incredible stretch with his seventh homer in 13 games. The New England native is hitting .394 with a 1.686 OPS over that span.

“I don’t assume (he’s going to hit a home run every game), but it’s been impressive,” Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said. “He’s taking great swings.”

Jones also cleared the wall as a pinch hitter in the ninth.

Trevor Story and Roman Anthony posted multi-hit games as they continued to reintegrate into the Boston lineup. Both were reactivated from injury stints on Sunday.

“At this point, there’s one goal,” Anthony said. “There always is, but I think even more so now entering September. Your eyes are kind of on one thing, which is playoff baseball.”

Boston’s Patrick Sandoval (1-3, 4.20 ERA) will start for the first time since losing 1-0 on Friday in the opener of a four-game set against the New York Yankees. The left-hander still is in search of his first win since Aug. 4th.

Against the Yankees, Sandoval matched a season high with seven strikeouts while allowing one run, three hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings. The lone run was a Paul Goldschmidt blast.

Sandoval is 0-5 with a 3.04 ERA in nine career starts against the Mariners, who were an American League West rival for his six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.

–Field Level Media

It Was Ugly

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FENWAY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The skies over Fenway Park were dark. There was a steady rain all day long, reminding many of a cold, March gray day. It was even worse once the game started. Seattle rookie Lazaro Montes homered in his major league debut for the visiting Mariners, who scored in each of the first five innings en route to a 9-6 win over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.

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All nine starters produced at least one hit for Seattle (65-74), which snapped a five-game skid with the 14-hit attack. Randy Arozarena contributed a three-run homer, and Dominic Canzone also went deep.

Montes, a 21-year-old who was promoted from Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday, served as Seattle’s designated hitter. He was one of five Mariners with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4 with a walk, two RBIs and two runs.

The early run support was more than enough for Bryan Woo (10-9), who struck out seven in a six-inning start. Woo allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk.

The Red Sox (75-64) trailed 9-1 before scoring a run in the sixth and two more in both the seventh and ninth. Mickey Gasper hit his seventh homer in his past 13 major league games. Jahmai Jones crushed a pinch-hit, two-run shot in the ninth, forcing Seattle closer Andres Munoz into the game to record the last two outs.

Jedixson Paez (0-1), who was recalled from Triple-A Worcester to make his first major league start and Red Sox debut, was tagged for eight runs on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings. He walked two and fanned three as the Red Sox took their fifth loss in seven games.

Solo homers by each team’s second batter made it 1-1. Canzone got Seattle started with a blast over the bullpens in right-center field before Gasper ripped a game-tying shot to virtually the same location.

The Mariners used a five-run second inning to blow the game open, headlined by Arozarena’s towering three-run homer down the left field line. Back-to-back hits and a walk loaded the bases before Paez recorded the first out on J.P. Crawford’s sacrifice fly. Brock Rodden chopped an RBI single over first baseman Gasper to drive in a run before Arozarena went deep for the second straight night.

In the third, back-to-back-to-back singles brought home a seventh Seattle run. Montes drove in Josh Naylor on a base knock through the right side.

In the fourth, Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh joined the hit parade with back-to-back doubles, increasing the Mariners’ lead to 8-1 before Paez exited.

Montes socked a solo homer to deep center leading off the fifth.

Wyatt Olds, who relieved Paez, finally held Seattle scoreless in a 1-2-3 sixth. The Red Sox got back on the board in their half of the inning, as Abreu smacked a double off the left field wall and scored as Caleb Durbin reached base on an errant throw.

The Red Sox drew closer on Eli White’s two-run double into the left field corner in the seventh.

–Field Level Media

Adley Out of Sox Lineup

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FENWAY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman is dealing with a lingering elbow injury that kept him out of the starting lineup on Tuesday against the visiting Seattle Mariners.

Rutschman, 28, missed his second consecutive start because of discomfort from a hyperextended right elbow, which likely will be an issue for the rest of the season, interim manager Chad Tracy said Tuesday afternoon on WEEI.

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The three-time All-Star has been in and out of the lineup since initially hurting himself on a swing during an Aug. 24 game against the Miami Marlins. Rutschman last played on Sunday, going 0-for-4 with a strikeout in a 16-1 road loss to the New York Yankees.

Rutschman is batting .170 (9-for-53) in 15 games for Boston with one home run and four RBIs. He has a .254 on-base percentage and a .245 slugging percentage for a .500 OPS.

He was acquired at the MLB trade deadline on Aug. 3 from the Baltimore Orioles in a seven-player swap. Rutschman had been placed on the injured list on July 20 with inflammation in his left wrist and, after a rehab assignment, was added to the Boston roster on Aug. 11.

An All-Star this year, Rutschman batted .254 with 69 home runs and 277 RBIs in five seasons and 572 games for the Orioles.

–Field Level Media

TL’s Sunday Notes | August 30

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief, Digital Sports Desk (and former head of NBA International Communications)

ISTANBUL – Attending a Basketball without Borders camp for the first time since 2005 (Basketball w/o Borders – Asia (Beijing as host) with Yao Ming is making quite an impression on one former NBA International staffer. The B w/o B camp concept, created in 2000-2001, and staged in Summer of 2001 (in Treviso, Italy), was done in conjunction with the United Nations. The UN’s Zach Messite played a significant role and approached us (the NBA) with hopes to create a program to encourage healthy living amongst the youth of the world.

That evolved into a sports diplomacy mission as well, with the 2001 camp re-uniting players of five former Yugoslavian provinces via each region sending their top players to be instructed by the likes of Vlade Divac (Serbian) and Toni Kukoc (Croatian). The players had not been on speaking terms since playing as one team at the 1990 FIBA Worlds, a tournament they won. The war erupted and divided the nation znd the players.

We (at the NBA) did our small part in re-uniting them.

Pivoting from the “Doctors Without Borders” program already being run, Messite came up with the idea of “Basketball without Borders.” Commissioner David Stern and Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik gave the green light and we were off to the event planning stages. For PR and my staff back then, Helen Wong carried the torch. On Basketball Ops, it was Kim Bohuny and Bret MacTavish. NBAE, Security and NBA events staff plugged in and it was “on.”

At the time, the NBA was already working on the continent of Africa and was staging a camp tagged “Africa 100.” It was a “no-brainer” to rename that effort and the NBA began a continent-by-continent approach to staging the camps, eventually adding The Americas and Asia.

This year, the concept changed to bring the world to Istanbul with the top player prospects all in one place.

FIBA is instrumental in helping to identify the best and most deserving players without allowing any politics to get into the choices. The FIBA U-17 World Championships and their qualifiers also help scout the up & coming players.

Fast forward 25 years and the stats are staggering … check it out!

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: This year’s camp is happening because of the following NBA and FIBA players/coaches/trainers all volunteering their time:

NBA Players

Dominick Barlow – Philadelphia 76ers, USA

Saddiq Bey – New Orleans Pelicans, USA

Thomas Bryant – Cleveland Cavaliers, USA

Bub Carrington – Washington Wizards, USA

Brook Lopez – LA Clippers, USA

Khris Middleton – Washington Wizards, USA

Jalen Suggs – Orlando Magic, USA

Jabari Walker – Philadelphia 76ers, USA

NBA Coaches and Personnel

Kenny Atkinson – Cleveland Cavaliers, USA

Caron Butler – Miami Heat, USA

Dahntay Jones – LA Clippers, USA

Jannero Pargo – Indiana Pacers, USA

Lamar Skeeter – Charlotte Hornets, USA

Greg St. Jean – Los Angeles Lakers, USA

Ekpe Udoh – Atlanta Hawks, USA (ties to Nigeria)

James White – Minnesota Timberwolves, USA

NBA and FIBA Legends

Vlade Divac – NBA and FIBA Legend, Serbia

Danilo Gallinari – NBA and FIBA Legend, Italy

Camp Directors

Chris Ebersole – Los Angeles Lakers USA

Prosper Karangwa – Philadelphia 76ers, Canada/Rwanda

Adam Simon – Miami Heat, USA

Mike Zarren – Boston Celtics, USA

Strength and Conditioning Personnel

Isaiah West – Brooklyn Nets, USA

Emily Zaler – Philadelphia 76ers, USA

Athletic Trainers

Dan Shimensky – Denver Nuggets, USA

Casey Smith – New York Knicks, USA
The Blue Mosque along the Bosphorus River (Europe/Asia)

That list is an amazing combination of people who are all spending their time in the No. 1 world class city of Istanbul – which happens to be home HQ for our NBA Basketball School – Türkiye. To say the synergy is working would be an understatement.

Now consider these historical numbers for B w/o B:

  • B w/o B has been a platform for more than 4,900 participants from 149 countries and territories since 2001.
  • As of 2026, there are 155 former campers advancing to the NBA or WNBA.
  • The NBA and FIBA have staged 86 B w/o B camps in 56 cities across 36 countries on six continents.
  • More than 50 former B w/o B campers were among the record 135 international players on opening-night rosters last season, including 2026 NBA All-Stars Deni Avdija (Portland Trail Blazers; Israel; B w/o B Europe 2018; B w/o B All-Star 2019), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander(Oklahoma City Thunder; Canada; B w/o B All-Star 2016), Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets; Canada; B w/o B All-Star 2015) and Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers; Cameroon; B w/o B Africa 2012).

The Players participating as campers here in Istanbul are the Top 78 17-year old men’s players in the world. The NBA stages similar camps for women, including a wonderful annual event at the NBA All-Star Game.

Jose Dias – Angola

Facundo Mathieu – Argentina

Enzo Roth – Argentina

Riak Akhuar – Australia

John Aryang – Australia

Yahya Basaran – Australia

Antonio Browne – Australia

William Troy Hamilton – Australia

Manu Agbason – Azerbaijan

Hassan Oshobuge Abdulkadir – Bahrain

Aaron Ona Embo – Belgium

Imran Subasic – Bosnia

Lucas Moro – Brazil

Victor Santos – Brazil

Isaiah Clarke – Canada

Noah D’Acre – Canada

Kenyon St. Louis – Canada

Kingston Thomas – Canada

Boran Yue – China

Zhanfeng Zhou – China

Marek Houska – Czech Republic

Martin Sibal – Czech Republic

Martin Simko – Czech Republic

Neora Francis Ossete Toly – Democratic Republic of the Congo

Lucas Troels-Smith – Denmark

Malvin Duran – Dominican Republic

Robert Kangur – Estonia

Mathias Fabien – France

Messi Yangala – France

Mansour Bayo – The Gambia

Mamadou Samba – The Gambia

Herbert Roland Senghore – The Gambia

Lucai Anderson – Germany

Paul Plato – Germany

Caspar Vossenberg – Germany

Angelos Zoupas – Greece

Vince Gaspar – Hungary

Lapo Santini – Italy

Minty Jean-Philippe Dylan Oka – Ivory Coast

Gabrielius Buivydas – Lithuania

Jokubas Kukta – Lithuania

Kristupas Sabeckas – Lithuania

Luca Balducci – Mexico

Yair Olano – Mexico

Luka Malovic – Montenegro

Marko Popovic – Montenegro

Tawhiri Cate – New Zealand

Liam Keogh – New Zealand

Zach Rampton – New Zealand

Justin Akengbowa – Nigeria

Kalu Miracle Ebubechukwu – Nigeria

Prince Carino – Philippines

Lukasz Lysek – Poland

Miguel Sousa – Portugal

Dwight Gaines – Puerto Rico

Ameer Hausawi – Qatar

Azam Yakan – Qatar

Serigne Saliou Mbodji – Senegal

Petar Bjelica – Serbia

Matija Lukic – Serbia

Ognjen Simjanovski – Serbia

Lun Jarc – Slovenia

Taejoon Park – South Korea

Emmanuel Aguer Majak – South Sudan

Eghosa Odeje – Spain

Troy Hilamani Kaufusi – Tonga

Abderahmen Bouguerra – Tunisia

Adem Rafrafi – Tunisia

Besir Briant – Turkey

Darius Karutasu – Turkey

Ruzgar Opcun – Turkey

Demir Ozturk – Turkey

Omer Sik – Turkey

Dmytro Datsenko Ukraine

Oliver Bishop – United Kingdom

Maxx Tjongondjoza – United Kingdom

Kevin Gutierrez – Venezuela

Julio Vasquez – Venezuela

Remember those names, maybe to be seen at an NBA or college basketball arena near you someday soon.

And, remember Matija Lukic – Serbia who won the “Kim Bohuny” MVP award.
Packed house at Türkiye Basketball Federation’s gym (Photo by T. Peter Lyons)

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: What’s the new motto! – “When in Istanbul, attend a FIBA World Qualifying Tournament game!” – That big game was played Friday night at 9:00pm (local) and it coincided with FIBA World Cup qualifying games being played all over the world.

Türkiye drubbed Lithuania, 94-66, after jumping out to a 27-13 1st Quarter lead and they never looked back.

For the USA Basketball qualifying squad, the venue was in Chile and the USA Men’s World Cup Qualifying (Window 4) Team handling their business in front of a capacity crowd in Santiago, 89-71.

Red Sox: A Bronx Fail

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BRONX – (Wire Service Report) – Heliot Ramos delivered his biggest hit for his new team when his three-run homer capped a five-run fifth inning and helped the New York Yankees roll to a 16-1 victory over the visiting Boston Red Sox on Sunday afternoon.

The Yankees won for the 10th time in 14 games and moved four games ahead of the Red Sox for the AL’s top-wild card spot. New York also won seven of the 13 meetings to secure the season series and the tiebreaker should the rivals finish tied at the end of the regular season.

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Austin Wells hit a pair of two-run homers in a nine-run eighth after entering the game as a pinch hitter for the Yankees. Jose Caballero hit a three-run homer in the eighth off infielder Andruw Monasterio, who also served up Wells’ second homer of the inning.

Ramos staked New York to a 5-0 lead when he lifted a 1-2 curveball from Boston starter Ranger Suarez (5-4) into the left field seats for his first homer since being obtained from the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline. Ramos’ 416-foot drive was his first homer since July 20, and the outfielder had his first multi-hit game as a Yankee while also drawing a pair of walks.

Paul Goldschmidt started that inning with a two-run single that got by Suarez and past Boston’s drawn-in infielders.

Goldschmidt’s clutch hit occurred after Boston center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela could not complete a running catch on Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s sinking liner. Rafaela caught the ball, but umpires determined his glove was touching the grass and the original call was upheld after Boston challenged.

Wells lifted a sacrifice fly in the sixth and Amed Rosario contributed an RBI single in the seventh as the Yankees totaled 25 runs on 31 hits in the final two games of the four-game series. Goldschmidt added a solo homer for New York’s 10th run in the eighth.

New York’s Will Warren (9-6) allowed one run on six hits in seven-plus innings. The right-hander struck out seven and walked one before exiting to a nice ovation from the crowd after allowing an RBI single to Nick Sogard.

Suarez was tagged for season highs of six runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Reload with Story and Anthony

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BRONX – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox activated outfielder Roman Anthony and shortstop Trevor Story in advance of their game Sunday against the rival New York Yankees.

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Anthony has not played since May 4 due to a wrist injury, while Story has missed over three months with a sports hernia.

The Red Sox also optioned designated hitter Mickey Gasper, second baseman Anthony Seigler and left-hander Raymond Burgos to Triple-A Worcester. Burgos was added as the 27th man for Saturday’s doubleheader against the Yankees and gave up five runs in 2 1/3 innings of Game 2, a 9-2 loss for Boston.

Anthony, 22, was batting .229 with one home run and five RBIs in 30 games this season. Third in American League Rookie of the Year voting last season, Anthony is a career .273 hitter with nine home runs and 37 RBIs in 101 games for Boston over the past two seasons.

Story, 33, was batting .206 with three home runs and 19 RBIs in 41 games this season. A veteran of 11 major league seasons, he is a career .262 hitter with 207 home runs and 655 RBIs in 1,106 games for the Colorado Rockies (2016-21) and Red Sox. He is a two-time All-Star.

Story has not appeared in the lineup since May 14.Baseball

Gasper was batting .278 with five home runs and 19 RBIs in 45 games this season, while Seigler hit.250 with three home runs and 13 RBIs in 48 games.

The Red Sox entered Sunday’s play 10-11 since Aug. 8 as they search for the form that carried them to a 32-5 record over both sides of the All-Star break.

Yankees and Red Sox Face-Off in Bronx

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BRONX – The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are trying to catch the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East race.

In the event neither team can win the division, the preferred alternative would be home-field advantage in the wild-card series.

Holding a three-game lead over their rivals for the top wild card, the host Yankees attempt to clinch the season series from the Red Sox on Sunday afternoon in the finale of a four-game series.

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The season series is tied at six games apiece after a split of the doubleheader on Saturday. The Red Sox earned a 6-0 win in the first game before the Yankees pulled away for a 9-2 victory on Saturday night.

“Very important,” New York’s Luis Garcia Jr. said through a translator about winning the season series. “We’re battling. We have a clear objective. So every victory is going to be very important for us.”

New York trails the Rays by 4 1/2 games and hosts them in a four-game series next month. The Red Sox are 7 1/2 out and visit the Rays in the prior series from Sept. 18-20.

The Yankees scored once and had seven hits in the first two games of the series before erupting for 13 hits — all singles — in the nightcap.

Ben Rice drove in three runs and is hitting .310 (13-for-42) in his past 11 games.

Garcia, who had three hits in the win, is hitting .429 (15-for-35) with four homers and nine RBIs in his past 10 games.

New York’s offense has scored at least seven runs in four of its past seven games and totaled double-digit hits in four of the last six. The lineup may be without rookie George Lombard Jr., who is day-to-day with right knee discomfort.

The Red Sox are 10-11 in their past 21 games after their 32-5 run got them into a playoff spot.

Boston may be getting some reinforcements to its offense as Roman Anthony and Trevor Story could return from the injured list following lengthy absences.

Anthony has not played since May 4 due to a wrist injury, while Story has missed over three months with a sports hernia.

“I think it’s really important for us to get those guys back — we need them — but it’s also important to recognize the work that the whole lineup has put in the last three months,” Boston’s Willson Contreras said.

“I think those are tough decisions to make, I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, but we do have to recognize the job that the guys are doing for this team. We couldn’t have done what we’ve done without them.”

Ranger Suarez (5-3, 3.35 ERA) is 1-0 with a 4.00 ERA in six starts since returning from a groin strain on July 26. The left-hander allowed one run on four hits in five innings during a no-decision in Monday’s 4-2 win at Miami.

“I think it’s really important for us to get those guys back — we need them — but it’s also important to recognize the work that the whole lineup has put in the last three months,” Boston’s Willson Contreras said.

“I think those are tough decisions to make, I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, but we do have to recognize the job that the guys are doing for this team. We couldn’t have done what we’ve done without them.”

Ranger Suarez (5-3, 3.35 ERA) is 1-0 with a 4.00 ERA in six starts since returning from a groin strain on July 26. The left-hander allowed one run on four hits in five innings during a no-decision in Monday’s 4-2 win at Miami.

Yanks Rely on Pitching vs Red Sox

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BRONX – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox offered a glimpse at what a postseason encounter might look like on Friday night.

After widening their lead in the race for the American League’s top wild-card spot, the Yankees hope to see standout showings from Carlos Rodon and Max Fried when they host the Red Sox in a day-night doubleheader on Saturday.

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New York moved three games ahead of the Red Sox when Cam Schlittler and three relievers combined on a five-hitter in Friday’s 1-0 victory. Cody Bellinger threw out Ceddanne Rafaela at the plate as the potential tying run in the seventh inning.

New York enters its third doubleheader since the All-Star break with a major league-best 3.22 ERA despite spending time without Gerrit Cole, Rodon and Fried.

In the opener, Rodon (4-2, 3.15 ERA) will make his third start since returning from a second injured list stint due to elbow inflammation. He likely will see his pitch count gradually increase.

Rodon threw 66 pitches in his return on Aug. 18 at Baltimore and increased to 76 Sunday when he allowed two runs on two hits in four innings during New York’s 8-3 win over Toronto.

The left-hander is 5-6 with a 3.98 ERA in 13 career starts against Boston.

In the nightcap, Fried (4-4, 2.81) will return from a second but much shorter injured list stint due to a bone bruise in his left elbow.

Fried last pitched Aug. 13 and allowed a solo homer to Weston Wilson among five hits in five innings in 1-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners. Fried was 0-1 with a 1.82 ERA in five starts after returning from his initial two-month absence before being placed on the injured list Aug. 17.

The left-hander is 4-1 with a 1.88 ERA in six career starts against Boston.

“He has responded well,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Fried. “Actually, similar to how he responded the first time when he left Baltimore and missed more time. He has kind of responded well to that time and then the buildup. Like, he’s never really been shut down.”

The Red Sox are 9-10 in their past 19 games following a 32-5 stretch that included a 15-game winning streak. Boston has not scored since Jarren Duran hit a grand slam in the 11th inning of Tuesday’s 7-3 win over the host Miami Marlins.

Rafaela had two hits Friday but was doubled off first base once and later thrown out at home plate in a game in which the Red Sox had six walks, went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10.

“We just didn’t probably execute when we needed to,” Rafaela said after Boston was blanked in consecutive games for the first time this season. “I made some dumb decisions. We come back tomorrow, and win two and win the other one, we win the series. That’s the plan – win the series and go home.”

Rookie left-hander Jake Bennett (8-6, 3.49), who limited the Yankees to one run on three hits in 6 1/3 innings June 27 while opposing Cole, starts the opener. Since facing New York, Bennett is 6-3 with a 4.61 ERA in his past nine starts and earned the win when he allowed four runs in seven innings against San Francisco on Sunday.

The Red Sox did not announce their pitching plans for the second game and may use an opener followed by Brayan Bello as a bulk reliever.

–Field Level Media

Marlins’ Gusto Downs the Red Sox

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MIAMI – (Wire Service Report) – Single runs in the first two innings and Ryan Gusto’s 5 2/3 shutout frames propelled the Miami Marlins to a 4-0 win over the visiting Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.

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The Marlins tagged Boston starter Sonny Gray (16-4) for two hits in each of the first two frames, but four Red Sox errors had a major impact on all of the scoring.

Javier Sanoja went 3-for-4 with an RBI and three stolen bases, while Otto Lopez (2-for-4, two stolen bases, two runs scored) and Heriberto Hernandez (2-for-4, RBI) also had multi-hit games to help the Marlins salvage the three-game series.

Gusto (1-3) struck out two while working around four hits and three walks en route to his first victory of the season. Victor Vodnik, Janson Junk and Dax Fulton all worked in relief to preserve the shutout.

The Red Sox managed only five hits. Caleb Durbin was 2-for-4.

Three batters in, Hernandez’s RBI single past diving shortstop Andruw Monasterio brought Kyle Stowers home. Stowers lined a leadoff single to right before advancing to third on Boston first baseman Nick Sogard’s throwing error while attempting to turn a 3-6 double play.

After Gusto stranded the bases loaded on only one Anthony Seigler hit in the top of the second, Lopez generated Miami’s second run after starting the inning with a knock to left. Following Boston center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela’s diving catch on an Owen Caissie liner into the gap, Lopez stole second and scored on catcher Connor Wong’s off-targer throw.

Gray did his part to keep the Red Sox in the game, stranding two runners in scoring position in back-to-back frames. The righty capped the second with two strikeouts before left fielder Jarren Duran’s sliding catch near the foul line robbed Caissie in the third.

Meanwhile, Gusto turned aside the Red Sox in 1-2-3 fashion in both the fourth and fifth innings before Vodnik helped him through a two-on, two-out jam by catching Seigler looking to end the sixth.

The Marlins tacked on crucial insurance runs in the eighth. Lopez’s single, stolen base and advancement on another Wong misfire set up Caissie, who brought the run home on a hard grounder that Sogard misplayed. Two batters later, Sanoja lined an RBI single up the middle.

–Field Level Media