Juan Soto hit a game-ending single to open the 10th inning and the New York Yankees outlasted the visiting Boston Red Sox for a 2-1 victory Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series.
Soto gave the Yankees their fourth walk-off win this season when he hit a 2-2 sinker from Josh Winckowski (4-2) under shortstop Trevor Story’s glove into left field to score pinch runner Jon Berti, who replaced automatic runner Gleyber Torres.
Soto’s game-winner lifted the Yankees (85-62) to their fifth win in seven games and moved them two games ahead of the idle Baltimore Orioles atop the AL East. New York matched its largest lead in the division since regaining first place Aug. 21.
After getting the hit, Soto was mobbed by teammates at second base and doused in water by Aaron Judge and Anthony Volpe while conducting a postgame interview near the Yankee dugout.
Clay Holmes (3-5) got the final two outs in the top half to set it up for Soto’s dramatic hit.
Torres hit his third career leadoff homer by sending a full count offering from Boston starter Cooper Criswell into the right field seats for his 13th of the season. The Yankees held the lead until Danny
Jansen lifted a 2-2 slider from New York lefty Nestor Cortes into the left field seats in the fifth. The homer was Jansen’s ninth of the season.
Cortes allowed one run on three hits in five innings. The left-hander tied a season high by fanning nine for the fourth time and issued three walks in a 92-pitch outing.
After allowing Jansen’s homer, Cortes allowed a single to Wilyer Abreu, who stole second and advanced on a wild pitch. Cortes kept Abreu stranded at third by striking out Rafael Devers.
Criswell allowed one run on four hits in 5 1/3 innings. Criswell struck out four, walked three and was lifted after fanning Giancarlo Stanton.
Following Stanton’s strikeout, Jazz Chisholm Jr. singled against Cam Booser but was caught stealing. Following back-to-back walks to Jasson Dominguez and Anthony Rizzo, Volpe flew out to left field with the bases loaded for the second straight at-bat after doing so in the fourth