LONDON -- When the first three-run homer by Michael Chavis soared over the wall in center in the bottom of the first inning at London Stadium on Saturday, the 23-year-old rookie practically floated around the bases knowing that he had just tied a game his team trailed by six runs a half-inning earlier.

Six innings later, Chavis was at it again, launching another three-run missile to left-center to spark a six-run seventh that suddenly got his team back within four runs after trailing by 11 earlier in the game.

The only thing that could have made the game more memorable for Chavis was if his efforts came in a win.

• Box score

Instead, the Red Sox took a 17-13 loss in the opener of the inaugural London Series against the Yankees.

“It did feel special,” Chavis said. “I’m still new to all this. So every home run I’m still excited about. But just how loud it got when I hit the ball, then rounding the bases, hearing everyone cheering me, just sitting there on the field, listening to the Red Sox chants vs. the Yankees chants, it brings you to the moment. It’s like, ‘Wow this is unbelievable.’”

Unfortunately for Boston, that impressive power display by the right-handed-hitting masher wasn’t enough to offset the constant barrage of offense from the Yankees.

As the rivals played MLB’s first-ever game in London, the British fans experienced an old-fashioned slugfest.

• Every fact from Yankees-Red Sox in London

“Just one of those games,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “It felt like there was momentum all the time. The offense was on top of it the whole time. I guess it’s one of those games that people love. Hey, people love offense.”

Yet the Red Sox hate losing, and by dropping to 44-39, they fell a season-high 10 games behind the first-place Yankees in the American League East.

While Chavis made two long-distance connections during the game -- totaling 835 feet of total projected distance, according to Statcast -- he didn’t think he was the right person to project if Boston’s deficit in the division can be overcome.

• We haven't seen a 1st inning like this in 30 years

“I’ve been in the big leagues two months, bro. I have no clue. I try to take care of business and just do what I can to help the team win. I’ve never made a playoff push,” said Chavis. “I’ve never came back -- I don’t even know how many games back is normal. I’m sorry, I wish I had a better answer for you, but I’m just trying to do my best to help the team.”

Despite a recent lull that he is starting to snap out of, Chavis has 14 homers, 44 RBIs and an .816 OPS in his first 267 Major League plate appearances.

“Good at-bats,” said Cora. “We’ve been talking about him controlling the strike zone, not expanding. Today he got some pitches he could drive, put some good swings on it. The last at-bat with the walk, it's something he did early in the season. Stayed in the middle of the field, too. That was a good sign.”

Playing in front of 59,659 fans -- including his mother -- is something Chavis will never forget.

“I’d say it’s definitely the biggest crowd I’ve played in front of and probably the loudest as well,” said Chavis. “The stadium was set up a little bit differently with the overhang, I feel like it kind of like echoed almost. The noise was very prevalent on the field. It was fun, it really was. It was cool to be a part of that.”

What happened with Porcello?

Rick Porcello looked almost unrecognizable in the shortest start of his career, retiring just one of the seven batters he faced. The righty was hammered for five hits and six runs while walking one and striking out none.

Give the righty credit for not using the first-time baseball venue as an excuse. Porcello didn’t express any issues with the mound or the dimensions.

“Again, we play in a bunch of different ballparks over the course of the year,” Porcello said. “They’re all different atmospheres. There wasn’t anything out there today that got in my way other than myself. That was an unacceptable performance, especially where we are [in the standings] and the need for pitching, to go deep into games against a team we have to beat. I take full responsibility for it. I need to be better.”

Bogaerts just had a cramp

There was reason to be concerned when Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts was limping around the bases during the six-run bottom of the seventh inning and was replaced by Eduardo Núñez in the eighth.

The official diagnosis was a left calf cramp. Bogaerts admitted after the game that both of his calves actually cramped on the hot and humid night. Bogaerts hopes to start Sunday’s finale in London.

“It’s good. I’m healing up good,” Bogaerts said. “Hopefully tomorrow is good. The second at-bat I hit a foul ball and felt it a little bit. Running the bases, I felt it on both. If it’s one, I can tolerate it. But both? I can’t move that much at all when it’s both.”