Yankees vs. Red Sox: Xander Bogaerts hits MLB postseason’s first home run as Fenway fans heckle Gerritt Cole

The AL Wild Card stage hasn’t been too vibrant for Red Sox star Xander Bogaerts to date, because the shortstop opened Tuesday’s scoring with a first-inning two-run dwelling run off Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole (follow live coverage here). Rafael Devers labored a two-out stroll forward of Bogaerts to account for the opposite run. 

Bogaerts smashed the middle-of-the-plate changeup from Cole to lifeless heart, with Statcast giving it a 108 mph exit velocity and 427-foot projected distance. The Fenway Crowd then chanted “Gerritt” to mock the Yankees starter. 

The play Bogaerts made energized the group and gave the Purple Sox a mathematical benefit over their arch rivals. In keeping with Elias Sports, groups are 77-46 all-time in winner-take-all postseason video games after scoring first. 

Cole has struggled in Fenway Park lengthy earlier than Tuesday’s sport, giving up 5 homers in solely 16 innings there this season. He is been dominant just about all over the place else, pitching a 3.23 ERA and the very best Ok/BB ratio within the AL at 5.93. 

This sport was almost performed at Yankee Stadium. The groups shared an identical 92-70 information, however Boston took a 10-9 collection benefit to earn internet hosting duties. 

Bogaerts hit 23 dwelling runs and 79 RBIs this season to associate with a .295 batting common and .863 OPS, incomes the 29-year-old his third All-Star Look. 

Ought to Bogaerts’ dwelling run give the Purple Sox a win, they’d advance to a best-of-five AL Division Collection in opposition to the Tampa Bay Rays.