BOSTON -- If the Red Sox outlast the Yankees in the division, it won’t be because Steve Pearce turned into a slugger no one expected, a la Eduardo Nunez in 2017.
A new guy raking in a big spot is some validation of his acquisition, certainly -- kudos to the front office -- and a great moment for an ex-Yankee to boot. But there’s a greater force at play here as the Sox continue to push the Yanks down the American League East ladder than some trade deadline moves.
If the Sox win East, it will be because the Sox will have beaten the Yankees at their own game: mashing.
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The Sox’ formula in 2018 was supposed to be pitching, the Yankees’ formula hitting. Both teams, it turns out, are pretty darn good at both. And in both endeavors so far, the Sox have been just a tick better.
Boston has essentially out-raked Giancarlo Stanton and (the injured) Aaron Judge, even though the Sox don’t have more home runs than the Yanks do.
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After Thursday night’s 15-7 trouncing of the Yanks at Fenway Park, the Sox have a major-league best average of 5.39 runs per game, ahead of No. 2 New York at 5.22. The Sox’ slugging percentage is .460, the Yankees’ .459.
“Offensively, that was great, that was fun to watch,” Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We put pressure on the batters box. We put pressure at first base. We advanced on wild pitches, balls in the gap. I mean, that was pretty cool to see.”
Yankees reliever Jonathan Holder in the fourth inning faced seven batters, did not retire any of them, and allowed seven earned runs. Only one other pitcher can claim such a feat this season, the Orioles’ Dylan Bundy.
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The feat, though, really belongs to the Sox offense, rejuvenated probably beyond the point most people had imagined after such a down 2017. (Maybe it shouldn’t be so surprising, considering the David Ortiz Farewell Tour Sox of 2016 brought the thunder just two years ago.)
In the home run category, the Yanks still have the Sox beat, as well as everyone else. They’re averaging 1.62 per game. Boston is tied for fourth with the A’s, at 1.35.
But the Sox are also likely, some time this month, to match their home run output from all of last season. The beauty of Pearce and fellow newcomer Ian Kinsler is that Sox may start to dispel the idea they're top heavy, and transform the lineup into a more consistent Nos. 1-9 threat — a rare thing, but more viable possibility now, particularly with how well Blake Swihart has hit at catcher as well.
The Bronx Bombers may have met their match in the Boston Bashers.