Holt has MLB’s 1st postseason cycle in rout
NEW YORK — Brock Holt put the finishing touch on Boston’s blowout by etching his name in the record book.
The part-time utilityman became the first player to hit for the cycle in a postseason game and the Red Sox routed the Yankees 16-1 on Monday night to grab a 2-1 lead in their best-offive AL Division Series.
“It was a fun night. We were clicking on all cylinders,” said Holt, unaware of his achievement until told by a television reporter right after the game. “Tonight’s a night I’ll remember for a long time.”
A seven-run fourth inning turned the latest playoff matchup between these longtime rivals into a laugher. Handed a big early lead, Nathan Eovaldi shut down his former team during New York’s most lopsided defeat in 396 postseason games.
Boosted by noisy fans in their homer-friendly ballpark, the Yankees entered 7-0 at home the past two postseasons — all against out-of-division opponents. But the Red Sox, frequent visitors who clinched the AL East crown at Yankee Stadium just 2½ weeks ago, were hardly intimidated.
Boston hammered an ineffective Luis Severino and silenced a charged-up Yankee Stadium crowd that emptied fast on a night when Boston rookie manager Alex Cora made all the right moves.
Looking to play left-handed hitters against Severino, Cora inserted Holt at second base and Rafael Devers at third. Christian Vazquez started at catcher over Sandy Leon.
Making his first playoff start this year, Holt opened the fourth with a single off Severino and capped the 26-minute offensive outburst with a two-run triple to right field. Holt also doubled home a run in the eighth and, with backup catcher Austin Romine on the mound for New York, homered in the ninth to finish with five RBIs.
Every starter had at least one hit for the Red Sox, who piled up 18. The only time they scored more runs in the postseason was a 23-7 win over Cleveland in 1999.
Bumped up a day in front of Rick Porcello, Eovaldi allowed one run and five hits in seven innings in his first postseason appearance.
Game 4 is Tuesday night in the Bronx, where the 108-win Red Sox can put away the wildcard Yankees for good and advance to the AL Championship Series against Houston. Porcello is scheduled to pitch for Boston against CC Sabathia.