BOSTON -- First impressions of the Red Sox' 6-5 win over the Yankees at Fenway Park:
*David Price was competitive, despite not being at his best.
He ate up six innings and kept the game manageable for the Red Sox hitters.
Ideally, he would’ve maintained the run he’d been on of late and he tried to win his eighth start in a row, but there’s almost more value in Price’s subpar outing.
Earlier in the season, Price was electric when he was on and really bad when he wasn’t. It was often hard for him to find a middle ground. While having a lights-out starter is great, it’s hard to rely on him when you know he can be equally as bad.
Based on Saturday’s start, it seems Price had moved past that phase and be trusted to be competitive even when things aren’t clicking.
*Red Sox-Yankee games really are feeling like the “good ol' days” again.
Saturday’s game had it all.
Boston Red Sox
Big flies, players losing their tempers, and random wild plays that proved costly for one side.
Ever since Rick Porcello and Chase Headley exchanged words early August, there’s been a different, yet familiar, feel to the Boston-New York matchups.
The only thing that would complete things is the Yankees being in serious contention for the divisional title.
*Xander Bogaerts’ power was at its best Saturday.
The afternoon game marked the fourth time this season the Red Sox shortstop had a home run (his 20th) and double in a game. It was also the third time he’d hit two doubles. But it was his first three-extra-base game of 2016 and second of his career.
It didn’t hurt facing two upper-90s relievers, but Bogaerts still has to barrel up the ball.
*Gary Sanchez would be a great fit to play everyday at Fenway.
Seems like that would apply to most ballparks, given how much of a charge he puts into a ball. But Fenway is obviously one of the best places to hit as a home-run hitting catcher.
He could probably get an extra five or six a year from fly balls that would be outs anywhere else.