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Red Sox overcome Judge’s 470-foot homerun, come back with 3 runs in 8th to beat Yankees 9-7

Red Sox overcome Judge’s 470-foot homerun, come back with 3 runs in 8th to beat Yankees 9-7

BOSTON — Masataka Yoshida hit a go-ahead two-run single against Clay Holmes in a three-run eighth inning, and the Boston Red Sox overcame Aaron Judge’s 470-foot home run to beat the reeling New York Yankees 9-7 on Friday night.

Judge hit his 36th home run, his highest score in the major leagues, a three-run drive in the seventh inning on a cutter from Zack Kelly that landed in a small section of the stands, above a back wall and under a video board.

“I try not to watch them,” Judge said. “I had to watch the replay to see where it was going.”

The home run, the fifth longest of Judge’s major league career, put New York ahead 6-4. Austin Wells followed with a solo home run over right fielder Tyler O’Neill that went into the stands.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he saw Manny Ramirez hit a ball to the same area as Judge in 2007.

“That big kid, he’s awesome, man. I haven’t seen a guy hit a ball out there since ’07,” Cora said. “That was impressive, but our guys kept fighting.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone has been impressed long enough at Fenway with the spot where Judge landed his drive.

“I remember when he hit the ball straight, I thought, That’s how clean you can hit a baseball,” he said.

Ceddanne Rafaela cut the deficit to 7-6 with a home run off Luke Weaver in the bottom half, which went over the Green Monster and out of Fenway Park.

“As a baseball player, these are the games you want to play,” Rafaela said. “It’s awesome.”

Weaver (4-2) allowed the third hit of the night to Rob Refsnyder in the eighth inning and walked Connor Wong.

Holmes came off with one out in his second appearance since July 14, allowing Wilyer Abreu’s tying double on an up sinker. Holmes has blown four of his last six save chances and seven of 28 this season.

Yoshida got two sliders in front of the ball and then hit an upsinker.

“Yes, it is clear that I can win in a match like this, that’s why I came here,” Yoshida said through an interpreter.

Boston had lost five of its first six games after the All-Star break.

New York (60-45) has lost five of six games and is 10-23 after a 50-22 start.

“Look, that’s a game you’re trying to close out, you’re obviously in a tough position,” Boone said. “Tough position for Clay to get in there.”

Bailey Horn (1-1) retired the side for his first Major League win and Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth inning for his 20th save in 23 chances, the 440th of his Major League career.

Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello gave up three runs in five innings.

Anthony Volpe hit a homerun into the center field stands to tie the score at 1-1.

New York starter Nestor Cortes gave up four runs and a season-high nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. He is 0-5 with a 6.18 ERA in 11 starts away from Yankee Stadium and is 4-4 with a 2.48 ERA at home.

“It’s a tough period, a tough month, a tough two months, I don’t know what you want to call it. We have to turn it around,” Cortes said.

Boston acquired LHP James Paxton from the Los Angeles Dodgers for minor league infielder Moises Bolivar.

Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake missed the game due to the birth of his daughter Georgie.

Yankees: Boone said slugger Giancarlo Stanton could be activated Monday in Philadelphia. He has been out since pulling his left hamstring June 22.

Red Sox: Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow said before the game that 1B Triston Casas could begin a rehab assignment in a week. “He’s feeling good and hitting with more intensity,” Breslow said. Casas has been sidelined since mid-April with a rib injury. … Refsnyder collided with the Green Monster while attempting a leaping catch. He was on the ground for a time but remained in the game.

Yankees RHP Marcus Stroman (7-5, 3.51 ERA) will start Saturday night against Red Sox RHP Kutter Crawford (6-8, 3.37). Crawford won July 8 at Yankee Stadium, throwing just 68 pitches in seven shutout innings.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB