Red Sox sweep doubleheader from Yanks for 1st time in 17 years

BOSTON — Brayan Bello’s Sunday Night baseball sequel was even better than the original.

For the second Sunday in a row, Bello pitched under the lights in the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry. And once again, he came up aces.

Behind Bello’s seven strong innings (four hits, one run, three walks, eight strikeouts), the Red Sox wrapped up a three-game sweep of the Yankees — not to mention a Sunday split doubleheader sweep — with a crisp, 4-1 victory at an electric Fenway Park.

This marks the first time Boston has swept the Yankees in a doubleheader since Sept. 17, 2006. The last time it happened at Fenway was July 31, 1976.

“They have a good team. They’ll be there in the hunt and we want to be where they were last year,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “Just the whole environment last weekend was good over there, and tonight, this doubleheader was great. So I think the kids are doing an amazing job the last two weekends. Now, we’ve just got to turn the page and be ready for tomorrow.” 

The Red Sox boarded their flight to Minneapolis with a four-game winning streak and a two-game deficit in the American League Wild Card standings, which is the closest they’ve been in weeks.

Sunday’s final win was made possible by several dazzling defensive plays, highlighted by center fielder Jarren Duran somehow making a basket catch at a very tough angle by Boston’s bullpen. However, Bello was the story.

The 24-year-old has had a pair of coming-of-age Sundays, holding the Yankees to three runs over 14 innings while winning both starts.

“Of course I’m impressed,” said Duran. “I mean, I knew he could do it. I know people doubted because he struggled a little bit, but it’s the big leagues, it’s the best of the best. He’s an absolute stud and I’m so glad that I can make a play for him like that. And then he can keep going and keep growing and not have to worry about that being a hit or anything. So as long as I can pick him up and let him stay in rhythm, I’m happy I can do that for him.”

Technically, every win is weighted the same for a pitcher. But in the eyes of Red Sox followers, top performances against the Yankees always come with more appreciation.

And it isn’t just these past two starts — the trend started last season. In four career starts against the Yankees, Bello has a 1.44 ERA.

“Yeah, I like to pitch against every team, but of course pitching against the Yankees is very special,” said Bello. “I know what is at stake and I know what the fans expect from us. And for me to be able to pitch on that stage is very huge and it’s very important for me.”

Bello is just the third Sox pitcher age 24 or younger in the Wild Card era to have multiple starts of seven-plus innings and two or fewer runs against the Yankees in the same season, joining Eduardo Rodriguez (2016) and Jon Lester (‘08).

In truth, Bello has been pitching well against all comers of late. Over his last nine starts, the righty from the Dominican Republic has a 2.60 ERA.

“Really good,” said Cora. “He keeps getting better. His usage is getting where we want it to. He’s been able to develop his slider in the big leagues. His changeup has always been a weapon. Using his fastball in different areas. It’s not easy to do, facing the same lineup in back-to-back outings. To go seven, it was his game. Where we were bullpen wise, it worked that way. We needed seven from him and he did that.”

Next up for Bello will be a start against the White Sox this upcoming weekend in Chicago. And he’ll go into it with confidence, thanks to his performance under the bright lights of the rivalry.

“Of course it was a big challenge, but I had the same mentality that I had last Sunday in New York and it worked,” Bello said.