Red Sox Edge Yankees In Extra-Inning Thriller To Open Rivalry Series

Red Sox Edge Yankees In Extra-Inning Thriller To Open Rivalry Series...

The Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Yankees 6-5 in 10 innings Friday night at Fenway Park, reigniting baseball's fiercest rivalry in front of a sold-out crowd. The game is trending nationally as fans celebrate the return of high-stakes matchups between the historic AL East foes.

Rafael Devers delivered the walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th, scoring Trevor Story from second base. The clutch hit capped a back-and-forth battle that saw five lead changes, including a game-tying home run by Yankees slugger Aaron Judge in the 8th inning.

Friday's matchup drew significant attention as the first 2026 meeting between the teams. The rivalry remains one of MLB's most watched, with the clubs combining for 27 World Series titles. ESPN reported a 22% increase in early viewership compared to last year's opening series.

Red Sox starter Brayan Bello struck out nine over six innings, while Yankees ace Gerrit Cole allowed four runs in five frames. Both bullpens struggled, with Boston's Kenley Jansen blowing the save in the 8th before redeeming himself with a scoreless 10th.

The loss drops the Yankees (14-10) to second place in the AL East, while the Red Sox (15-9) move into a tie for first with Baltimore. The teams continue their three-game series Saturday afternoon with Nick Pivetta facing Nestor Cortes.

Social media erupted after the game, with #RedSox and #Yankees both trending on Twitter. Fans particularly debated manager Aaron Boone's decision to intentionally walk Devers in the 7th inning, which backfired when Masataka Yoshida followed with a go-ahead single.

Ticket resale prices for Saturday's game jumped 35% following Friday's dramatic finish, according to SeatGeek data. The rivalry's intensity appears undimmed despite both teams undergoing roster changes this offseason.

Weather could play a factor in the remainder of the series, with forecasts calling for rain Sunday. MLB officials say they'll monitor conditions but aim to avoid postponements given the rivalry's national appeal.