Red Sox repeat team feat last seen 40 years ago

LONDON -- Baseballs again were flying over the wall on Sunday afternoon at London Stadium in the Red Sox's 12-8 loss to the Yankees. This time Boston jumped out first.

In the bottom of the first inning facing Yankees opener Stephen Tarpley, Xander Bogaerts laced a liner to right for a two-run homer. J.D. Martinez made it back-to-back shots when he mashed one to right-center. And two batters later, an opposite-field solo shot to right by Christian Vázquez made it 4-0 Boston.

It was the sixth time in club history that the Red Sox hit three home runs in the first inning and the first time since Aug. 14, 1979, when Carlton Fisk, Fred Lynn and Carl Yastrzemski did it in a 12-1 win over the Twins.

For the Red Sox, the chance to go ahead early was something to appreciate a day after they fell behind, 6-0, in the first, and later 17-6, in an eventual 17-13 loss.

The homer was No. 16 on the season for Bogaerts, who has been the most consistently productive player on the Red Sox this season. Martinez belted his team-leading 18th long ball. It was No. 11 for Vazquez, who is having a breakout season at the plate.

Whether it is the atmospheric conditions in London or the somewhat cozy dimensions in the outfield, London Stadium seems built for offenses, based on the two games at the venue.

The Sox and Yankees combined to hit six homers in Saturday’s slugfest and four more Sunday.