Good look for Red Sox
After game-ending review ends rally, Astros rematch set
NEW YORK — Craig Kimbrel and the Red Sox held off a ninth-inning rally that ended with a video replay, eliminating the Yankees with a 4-3 victory Tuesday night that set up a postseason rematch with the World Series champion Astros.
Trailing in Game 4 of the AL Division Series, the Yankees scored twice in the ninth and had runners at first and second with two outs. Gleyber Torres hit a slow roller that third baseman Eduardo Nunez charged and threw across the diamond.
First baseman Steve Pearce stretched for an outstanding catch that nipped Torres. The Yankees immediately challenged and, with a sellout crowd standing and hoping, the out call was upheld after a 63-second look.
J.D. Martinez and the 108-win Red Sox reached the AL Championship Series for the first time since 2013. A year after losing to the Astros in a four-game ALDS, they will open the best-of-seven matchup
against the 103-win Astros on Saturday night at Fenway Park.
“We’re ready for another shot,” Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello said.
Porcello held the Yankees to one run over five innings for his first postseason win. Matt Barnes and Ryan Brasier followed with a perfect inning each to protect a 4-1 lead, and Red Sox ace Chris Sale followed with a 1-2-3 eighth in a rare relief appearance.
The Yankees had not put a leadoff runner on until Kimbrel, a seventime All-Star closer, walked Aaron Judge on four pitches leading off the ninth.
Didi Gregorius singled and Giancarlo Stanton struck out, dropping to 4-for-18 (.222) with no RBIs in the series. Luke Voit walked on four pitches, and Kimbrel hit Neil Walker on a leg with his next pitch, forcing in a run.
Gary Sanchez hit a drive that had the crowd roaring only for Andrew Benintendi to catch it on the
left-field warning track, a few feet short of a gameending grand slam. Torres followed with the bouncer that led to one of 21st century baseball’s strangest sights — a team unsure whether to celebrate, its direction depending on a decision from the replay room in Manhattan.