MLB GAME RECAP

Ramirez blasts two HRs as Red Sox sweep Yankees

The Sports Xchange

September 18, 2016 at 11:59 pm.

Sep 18, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez (13) hits a three run home run during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Sep 18, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez (13) hits a three run home run during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

BOSTON — Hanley Ramirez slugged two home runs, including the go-ahead solo shot in the seventh inning, and had four RBIs to help the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees 5-4 Sunday night at Fenway Park.

Ramirez also launched a three-run shot two innings earlier. Ramirez has 28 homers on the year, nine in September and 20 since the All-Star break.

He also matched his career high in RBIs at 106, set in 2009 with the Florida Marlins. Ramirez was 9-for-16 with four homers and nine RBIs in the four-game series with the Yankees.

Boston (85-64) moved a season-high 21 games over .500 and captured its first sweep of New York (77-72) in a series of four or more games in 26 years since June 4-7, 1990.

The Red Sox moved three games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the American League East. Meanwhile, the Yankees fell eight games behind in the division and four back of the second AL wild-card spot.

Robby Scott earned his first career victory in 2/3 innings of relief for Boston.

Koji Uehara notched his seventh save with a scoreless ninth.

Red Sox starter Drew Pomeranz stumbled through a 3 2/3-inning no-decision, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

Pomeranz is 0-3 in five starts since his last win Aug. 20 at Detroit.

Gary Sanchez smashed his second home run in as many days and his 16th of the season in just 41 games, the most by a Yankees rookie since Hideki Matsui clubbed 16 in 2003.

The only Yankees rookie to hit more homers in a season was Alfonso Soriano, who hit 18 in 2001.

Tyler Clippard (1-1 in AL) took the loss after coughing up Ramirez’s homer.

Yankees starter CC Sabathia tossed four scoreless frames before surrendering three runs in the fifth and another in the second.

He gave up eight hits and walked three with five punch outs in a no-decision.

After Ramirez’s homer shaved three runs off the Red Sox’s deficit in the fifth, Jackie Bradley Jr. tied the game at 4 an inning later with his RBI single to right field.

David Ortiz was greeted with a raucous ovation when he entered as a pinch hitter for catcher Bryan Holaday the next at-bat, but he struck out swinging.

Ramirez cleared the Monster with his decisive seventh-inning blast.

Didi Gregorius’ two-out single to right field plated the Yankees’ first run in the opening frame.

Sanchez doubled the lead when he ripped a Pomeranz cutter off the top of the Green Monster in left for his homer with two outs in the third.

Pomeranz got into trouble in the fourth when he walked the bases loaded with nobody out.

Brett Gardner brought a run in on his fielders’ choice to second base.

Ronald Torreyes followed with a grounder to third baseman Travis Shaw, who fired to second for the force out. Mason Williams took off from third after Shaw’s throw and beat the throw at home plate.

Sabathia allowed the Red Sox to put a pair of runners in scoring position after overthrowing first baseman Billy Butler on a potential inning-ending double play in the fifth.

On at-bat later, Ramirez unloaded on a 3-1 Sabathia slider for a homer to bring Boston within a run.

NOTES: Red Sox DH David Ortiz (rest) did not start. Ortiz served as an honorary captain for the New England Patriots’ game at Gillette Stadium on Sunday. He wore a Tom Brady jersey before putting on a custom “Big Papi” Patriots jersey. … Yankees CF Jacoby Ellsbury (bone bruise in right knee), 2B Starlin Castro (right hamstring strain) and 3B Chase Headley (stiff lower back) weren’t in the lineup. Ellsbury and Castro underwent MRI exams Sunday, and all three will travel to Tampa. … New York INF Donovan Solano had his contract selected from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and he started at second base. … Yankees RHP Anthony Swarzak (shoulder inflammation) was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list and RHP Chad Green (strained right forearm tendon) was moved to the 60-day DL. … Red Sox RHP Rick Porcello opposes Orioles RHP Dylan Bundy on Monday. Yankees RHP Michael Pineda counters Rays LHP Drew Smyly on Tuesday.

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