great theater

Regardless of whether you have a rooting interest in either team, Yankees-Red Sox draws you in. Great theater is almost guaranteed. Deep into a protracted seventh inning on Friday night at Fenway Park, the stage belonged to Mitch Moreland, who brought down the house with a two-strike, two-out, two-run pinch single that put Boston on top in a game it would win 9-6. Former Mississippi State star Moreland, batting just .245 but swinging it better of late, came to the plate to face New York right-hander Tommy Kahnle with the bases loaded and the Red Sox down 6-5. Moreland swung and missed at two changeups, then shortened his stroke and slapped a sharp single to the right of the second base bag. “A great two-strike approach,” MLB Network analyst Tom Verducci said. Boston’s win increased its lead over New York to 5 games in the American League East. The crazy seventh inning saw 19 batters come to the plate and each team score four runs. Moreland’s hit was one of 22 in the game, four of which left the park. Ole Miss product Drew Pomeranz started for the Red Sox but left with back spasms in the fourth inning while holding a 2-0 lead. The Red Sox wound up using eight pitchers, with Craig Kimbrel, the ex-Mississippi Braves star, notching the save with a three-strikeout ninth. Just another Yankees-Red Sox game.