The New York Yankees should be biting their fingernails after every Boston Red Sox win.
With each Boston victory, New York’s lead in the American League wild-card race grows slimmer. As the margin continues to shrink, that increases the chance that the Red Sox will leapfrog the Yankees, especially if they keep pulling off heart-pounding victories, like the one they had on Tuesday night on the road against the Miami Marlins.
LF Jarren Duran lifts Red Sox to victory over Marlins
In the top of the 11th inning, Duran hit a grand slam off an 80 mph sweeper from Marlins relief pitcher Cade Gibson 412 feet into right-center field, sending in first baseman Willson Contreras, shortstop Andruw Monasterio and designated hitter Jahmai Jones. He celebrated by donning the head of the team’s mascot, Wally the Green Monster. His teammates clearly got a kick out of that one, and they certainly got a thrill out of extending their five-game win streak.
Duran’s moonshot lifted the Red Sox to a 7-3 win over the Marlins (67-66), improving their record to 73-59 and cutting their deficit to the Yankees (74-57) to 1.5 games. Both teams remain in excellent positions. If the playoffs began Tuesday night, the Yankees would own the No. 1 wild-card spot in the AL, while Boston would be the No. 2 and face New York in a best-of-three series. The Cleveland Guardians (66-66), meanwhile, would hold the No. 3 seed.