BOSTON – The Yankees are historically more well-known for their bats than their arms; it has been more than six decades since they last authored three consecutive shutouts. They came oh so close on Wednesday after a splendid Max Fried performance.
Carrying a three-run lead to the mound after Amed Rosario’s first-inning homer, Fried hurled eight scoreless innings in a 4-1 victory over the Red Sox on Wednesday evening at Fenway Park, leading New York to its fifth straight victory.
The Yanks came within one out of firing a third consecutive shutout, something they haven’t achieved since June 1962. Fried’s outing built upon strong starts by Ryan Weathers and Luis Gil; then, it was Ralph Terry, Bill Stafford and Whitey Ford taking the ball.
Rosario continued his track record of success against left-handed pitching, launching his fourth homer of the season, a blast off Ranger Suarez that cleared the Green Monster. Rosario added a third-inning sacrifice fly, accounting for all of the Yanks’ runs.
Helped by a couple of dazzling Ryan McMahon plays at third base, Fried limited Boston to three hits and two walks.
Fried’s biggest challenge came in the second inning, after a walk and a Jarren Duran double placed runners at second and third with none out. Fried responded with three straight strikeouts to escape unscathed, part of a nine-strikeout effort.