Yankees rout Red Sox in opener of series with major playoff implications

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The biggest rivalry in Major League Baseball was renewed Friday, with the New York Yankees taking care of business early on the way to an 8-3 rout of the Red Sox in Boston.

Friday's matchup was the first in a crucial three-game series, with both teams trying to hold onto slender advantages atop the AL wild-card standings.

The two wild-card teams from each league will make the postseason and play each other in a one-game playoff. Even with the loss, the Red Sox (88-66) currently hold the top wild-card spot, with the Yankees (87-67) one game back in the second position. Close behind are the Toronto Blue Jays (85-69) and Seattle Mariners (84-69). Boston has now dropped four straight games to their rivals.

The Yankees got off to a hot start on Friday night, scoring three in the first inning on an RBI-double by Aaron Judge, a run-scoring groundout by Giancarlo Stanton and an RBI-single by Gleyber Torres.

New York extended its lead to 6-0 in the third when Stanton sliced a three-run homer into the right-field bullpen.

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Hirokazu Sawamura then replaced Boston starter Nathan Eovaldi on the mound, but Boston's nightmare continued as Kyle Higashioka's infield pop-up dropped near the mound, allowing Joey Gallo to make it 7-0, and bringing boos from the Fenway Park fans.

Boston finally got on the board in the sixth inning thanks to a three-run home run by Rafael Devers that pulled the Sox within 7-3. 

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But in the seventh, Torres hit a long home run over the center-field wall off Martin Perez – Boston's fourth pitcher of the night – putting New York up 8-3. Things were more or less over at that point.

The series continues on Saturday and Sunday as the Yankees look to leapfrog the Red Sox into the top wild-card spot. One advantage they will have – they will not have to face Boston ace Chris Sale, who pitched on Wednesday.

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