Red Sox run themselves into 1-0 loss at Yankee Stadium in series opener

New York Yankees secured a 1-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox in the first game of a pivotal four-game series at Yankee Stadium. Catcher Ceddanne Rafaela was the key to the Red Sox's downfall, committing two crucial errors in the fifth and seventh innings. The first miscue occurred when Rafaela was doubled off first base after being thrown out at home plate, a play that Rafaela himself admitted was a bad read.

The second error came in the seventh inning when he was thrown out at home plate while attempting to score from second base, with runners at second and third. The Yankees' ace, Cam Schultzer, made a perfect throw with a blazing 99.7 mph arm to secure the Red Sox's first 1-0 loss since July 25, 2008. This setback leaves the Red Sox trailing the Yankees by a slim margin in the race for the top American League wild-card spot, as the season series against longtime rivals stands tied at 5-all.