The Red Sox seemed ready to celebrate on enemy turf. The Yankees playoff hopes seemed doomed. That was until the Yankees miraculously scored five runs in the bottom of the 9th to defeat the Red Sox 5-3.
With the game tied 0-0 in the top of the eighth – thanks to brilliant performances by both Bryan Mitchell and Clay Buchholz – Adam Warren took the mound for the Yankees. Warren proceeded to allow three runs in the inning, including a two-run double to MVP candidate, Mookie Betts.
The Red Sox maintained their 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the 9th. As the half inning started, the Red Sox clinched their first AL East title since 2013 thanks to the Orioles defeating the Blue Jays north of the boarder. Three outs stood in the way of the Red Sox celebrating in Yankee Stadium.
With Craig Kimbrel coming in, the outcome seemed inevitable. Kimbrel, however, allowed all four batters he faced to reach. John Farrell had seen enough and removed his closer, bringing in Joe Kelly to record the final three outs of the ballgame. He was able to retire the first two batters he faced before he served up a dramatic, walk-off grand slam to Mark Teixeira. The hit kept the Yankees playoff hopes – albeit slim – alive.
After the game, Joe Girardi called Teixeira’s walk-off “an unbelievable moment.” If that was the last home run of his career, Teixeira certainly went out with a bang.
The Red Sox would celebrate the AL East title in the clubhouse, but it wasn’t exactly on the terms that they had hoped.
The Play: Mark Teixeira Sends a Walk-Off Grand Slam into the Night
Top Performers
Red Sox – Mookie Betts 2 for 4, 2 RBI
Yankees – Mark Teixeira 1 for 3, HR, 4 RBI
Notes
-Ortiz will play his final game at Yankee Stadium tomorrow night
-With an Orioles win or a Yankees loss tomorrow, the Yankees will be eliminated from playoff contention
-Tonight was Bryan Mitchell’s longest start of his career
The Highlight: Mark Teixeira’s Postgame interview
Mark Teixeira: "I hope that's my last home run…what a way to go out." pic.twitter.com/tDEmu3dIvi
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) September 29, 2016
Up next
The Yankees will look to stay alive in the playoff hunt and complete the sweep of the Red Sox at 7:05 p.m. CC Sabathia (8-12 4.02 ERA) will take the hill for the Yankees and face off against Henry Owens (0-1 7.79 ERA). It will be David Ortiz’s last game in the Bronx. The Yankees plan on having a pregame ceremony to honor Ortiz.
Photo: Brad Penner / USA Today Sports