August 17, 2021

Red Sox Lose Two To Yankees, Are Tied With New York For Second Place

The Red Sox were swept by the Yankees in a Tuesday doubleheader, 3-5 and 0-2. Boston (69-53) and New York (68-52) are now tied for second place in the AL East; the Yankees' winning percentage is actually .001 better).

In the first game, the Red Sox, trailing by two runs, began the top of the final inning with three singles, loading the bases. But Travis Shaw lined out to left and Alex Verdugo and Enrique Hernandez both struck out. In the nightcap, the Red Sox left nine men on base in seven innings.

For the Red Sox, it was the first time they were shutout in the second game of a doubleheader against the Yankees after also losing the first game since September 6, 1971 (3-5 & 0-3). The first game was also the first Red Sox/Yankees game to feature three multi-run singles, all of which either tied the game or took the lead, since July 2, 1936 . . . so there's that, for what it's worth.

MFY starter Luis Gil pitched 4.2 shutout innings in G2. He has not allowed a run in any of his first three major league starts (15.2 innings, nine hits, seven walks, 18 strikeouts, 64 batters faced). Gil is the fifth pitcher in the modern era to not allow any runs in his first three starts: George McQuillan (Phillies, 1907), Jorge Campillo (Mariners/Atlanta, 2005-2008), Travis Lakins (Red Sox, 2019), and Ryan Weathers (Padres, 2021).

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On Sunday, the Mets set a record for most consecutive games without a triple. From June 4 to August 15 of this year, the Mets went 68 games without a three-bagger. The old record was held by the 2016 Orioles (67 games, May 31 to August 13).

The record for most consecutive games with at least one triple is 12, by the 1928 Pirates, who hit 23 triples from August 16-25. From August 13-28, the Pirates tripled in 17 of 19 games.

Three teams have tripled in 11 straight games: 1902 Boston Americans, 1911 Cardinals, and 1917 Giants. Of the 29 teams that have had a triple in at least nine straight games, 28 are from 1902-28. The lone exception is the 1979 Phillies.

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