Yanks roll past Red Sox for 100th victory
Club breaks 1997 M's record for homers in a season on Torres' shot
BOSTON -- Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar shined on an impressive day for the Baby Bombers, Giancarlo Stanton cleared the Green Monster for his 100th RBI and the Yankees reached the century mark in the win column with an 8-5 victory over the Red Sox on Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park.
Torres' fourth-inning homer marked the Yanks' 265th of the season, surpassing the 1997 Mariners for the single-season record while also establishing New York as the first club to get 20 or more homers from every spot in the lineup. One inning later, Andujar legged out his 45th double, a two-run knock that shattered Joe DiMaggio's 1936 franchise record for doubles (44) by a rookie.
"A lot of cool things happened for our team today. It was a good day," Stanton said. "Andujar's doubles record is awesome, and the team home run record involves all of us. I think that's the coolest one, because it took all of us to get it."
Torres' milestone blast came off Eduardo Rodriguez, landing in the Red Sox's bullpen and helping New York reach 100 wins for the first time since its World Series championship season of 2009 (103). This marks the first time that the Red Sox and Yankees have surpassed 100 victories in the same season.
"Everybody knows the [home run] number," Torres said. "I hit that ball. I feel really happy, my teammates, too. All season, we did a really good job. Everybody does something. I'm happy for us and we enjoyed that moment."
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that he has been proud of the seasons compiled by Andujar and Torres, two legitimate candidates in the American League Rookie of the Year Award chase who were not necessarily being counted upon this season. Andujar opened the year on the Yanks' bench behind third baseman Brandon Drury, and Torres started in the Minors.
"It speaks to their talent, but also who they are," Boone said. "To come into this kind of situation and really thrive and go through all the ups and downs that happen over the course of the year, and show the ability to constantly make adjustments -- they really have been impact players and impressive with how they've gone about it and handled every situation."
With home-field advantage for Wednesday's American League Wild Card Game against the A's already secured, the Yankees opted to start Domingo German in place of Lance Lynn, who will fill a relief role during the playoffs.
German recorded four outs before rookie Stephen Tarpley continued his stellar audition for a postseason roster spot by retiring the two left-handed batters he faced.
"He continues to impress us and get our attention," Boone said.
Lynn allowed a run over three innings and Sonny Gray pitched a pair of scoreless frames. Tommy Kahnle and Jonathan Holder were touched for a combined three runs before Albertin Chapman returned to the ninth inning, recording the final two outs for his 32nd save.
SOUND SMART
Among the five AL playoff teams, the Yankees have the best record against the other AL postseason qualifiers (22-16, .579).
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Stanton reached 100 RBIs for the second consecutive season with his 38th homer of the year, a seventh-inning blast that was thrown back onto the playing field by a fan from atop the Green Monster, striking Stanton on a bounce. Stanton had earlier doubled home a run against Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi as part of a three-hit day.
"I wouldn't have thought it got to me that fast from a fan throwing it," Stanton said. "I've never seen it happen before. … He got it that far, got his target, got in trouble for it. It's fine on both sides." More >
HE SAID IT
"It's incredible, and [Aaron] Judge was out for a lot of the year. I think we would have shattered that record if he'd been around. It's been amazing to watch. This team is young and powerful. It's a lot of fun to see the display every day and every night." -- Carsten Sabathia, on the Yanks reaching 266 homers
UP NEXT
The Yankees scratched Luis Severino from his scheduled start in Sunday's regular-season finale. Severino, who is a candidate to start the AL Wild Card Game, could still appear in relief vs. Boston, according to Boone, but New York has not announced a starter. The Red Sox will start Rick Porcello in the 3:05 p.m. ET contest at Fenway Park.