Chapman high-wire act ends with save

BOSTON — Aroldis Chapman took the mound in the ninth inning Saturday and, naturally, drama ensued.

But after putting the tying run on third and the winning run on second, the Yankees closer came back to avoid another disaster, striking out the redhot Kiké Hernandez to secure a 4-3 win over the Red Sox.

Chapman converted a save (his 18th of the season) in his second straight opportunity as he continued to work back from a brutal stretch in which he was tagged for 14 earned runs across 5 2/3 innings.

“Very thankful to have that opportunity, for the trust [manager Aaron Boone] has shown me, allowing me to get back in there and allowing me to get back into the form that I was in when we started the season,” Chapman said through an interpreter. “The support my team has shown me ... it’s been a leading hand for sure to get me back on track and get back to where you want to be as a pitcher.”

Chapman was still spotty with his command. He nearly hit Alex Verdugo with his first pitch and he walked pinchhitter Hunter Renfroe with two outs. But after Christian Vazquez blooped a ground-rule double into the right-field seats, Boone opted to have Chapman pitch to Hernandez with first base open instead of intentionally walking him with pinch-hitter Bobby Dalbec on deck.

“We wanted to win the game right there and I didn’t want to put [Hernandez] on and bring the walk into play,” Boone said.

Chapman buckled down and got Hernandez to chase a 100 mph fastball below the zone to end the game.

“I definitely feel very close,” Chapman said of regaining the shutdown form he showed in the first two months of the season. “We’ve taken some positive steps in the right direction. My mind is solid.”

Chapman faced the Red Sox twice last weekend in The Bronx, pitching the ninth inning of a 4-0 loss and a 9-1 win, but has since jumped back into highleverage situations. Despite some dicey encounters — including Wednesday against the Phillies, when his recurring fingernail issue affected his pitches — he and Boone believe he’s trending in the right direction.

“They took some really good at-bats and made him work really hard, but every time he left the zone, he was right back in it,” Boone said. “It was good to see him, in this environment with a lot on the line, just continue to make pitches.”