YANKEES-RED SOX: THE SEASON SERIES

April 25-27, Fenway Park

The Yankees and Red Sox entered their first series of the season trailing the Orioles in the AL East. After the first game was postponed by rain, Aaron Judge put on a show in a 3-1 win on April 26. The right fielder, celebrating his 25th birthday, made a terrific catch and added a two-run homer in support of Luis Severino, who tossed seven scoreless innings. The next day, Masahiro Tanaka (above) tossed a three-hit shutout, outdueling Chris Sale in a 3-0 victory.

June 6-8, Yankee Stadium

With the Yankees up by two games over Boston in the division, Tanaka wasn’t nearly as effective in his next outing against the Red Sox. He allowed five runs — and three homers — in just five innings, as the Yankees lost, 5-4. The Yankees bounced back the next day, thanks to eight shutout innings by CC Sabathia and a threerun homer from Chris Carter. They finished the series with another rout, as Michael Pineda gave up just an unearned run in seven innings and the offense pounded David Price for six runs. The Yankees went up three games in the division with the win.

July 14-16, Fenway Park

The Yankees opened the series by losing for the fifth time in six games to fall 4½ games back of Boston. This one was especially painful, as Aroldis Chapman blew a save by allowing two runs in the bottom of the ninth, walking Andrew Benintendi with the bases loaded to force in the winning run. They followed that defeat with a dramatic victory of their own, as Matt Holliday homered off Craig Kimbrel to tie the game in the top of the ninth and the Yankees won it in the 16th inning thanks to a go-ahead single by Didi Gregorius and nine scoreless innings from the bullpen. The two teams split a doubleheader the following day, with Sabathia pitching six shutout innings in the opener and Price throwing eight scoreless in the nightcap. When the marathon four-game series was over, the third-place Yankees were 3½ games behind Boston.