Yankees nip rival Red Sox 1-0 in series opener behind Goldschmidt, Bellinger and Schlittler

NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt homered, left fielder Cody Bellinger threw out the potential tying run at home plate to end the seventh inning and the New York Yankees edged the Boston Red Sox 1-0 on Friday night in the opener of a pivotal four-game series.

Cam Schlittler (12-6) shut down his hometown team again, striking out eight in 5 2/3 innings of two-hit ball. The right-hander from Massachusetts overcame five walks, which matched a career high, as the Red Sox went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 overall.

They also cost themselves with a terrible baserunning blunder by Ceddanne Rafaela, who got doubled off first as the trail runner when Wilyer Abreu lined out to center field — ending the fifth with cleanup batter Willson Contreras on deck.

New York remained four games behind first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East and moved three ahead of Boston in the race for the top American League wild card and home-field advantage throughout a potential best-of-three playoff series between the longtime rivals.

Such a matchup would be a reprisal of last year, when Schlittler pitched a Game 3 gem as a rookie to send the Yankees on. Schlittler, who surpassed 200 strikeouts this season and leads the AL with a 2.09 ERA, is 3-1 with a 0.56 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings over five career starts against Boston — including the postseason.

In a nip-and-tuck game with a playoff feel, Boston put runners at second and third with one out in the seventh when Rafaela singled and Abreu doubled on the first two pitches from reliever Paul Blackburn.

Contreras lofted a fly to left and Bellinger cut down Rafaela at the plate with a 99.7 mph throw.

Blackburn worked a 1-2-3 eighth and David Bednar pitched a perfect ninth for his 31st save.

With the Yankees facing a left-handed starter for the first time since Aug. 8 (excluding openers), Goldschmidt batted leadoff and launched a 430-foot homer to left off hard-luck loser Patrick Sandoval (1-3) in the third.

A day-night doubleheader Saturday to make up a June 6 rainout. Max Fried (4-4, 2.81 ERA) will come off the injured list to start the second game for the Yankees, with fellow left-hander Carlos Rodón (4-2, 3.15) taking the ball in Game 1. Rookie LHP Jake Bennett (8-6, 3.49) pitches the opener for the Red Sox, who had not announced a Game 2 starter.

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Boston Red Sox' Ceddanne Rafaela is tagged out by New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells at home plate on a double play during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Boston Red Sox' Ceddanne Rafaela is tagged out by New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells at home plate on a double play during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt hits a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees right fielder Spencer Jones, left fielder Cody Bellinger, and center fielder Trent Grisham, right to left, celebrate with teammates after winning a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Quinn Mathews allowed one run over 5 2/3 innings for his first major league win and Jimmy Crooks hit a two-run homer to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.

Mathews (1-2) threw 102 pitches in the longest of his four starts. He struck out seven for the second time and walked one in his first outing at home.

Ryan Fernandez followed Mathews with two scoreless innings. Fernandez left after a two-out walk to Brian Reynolds in the eighth and Caleb Ferguson got the final out when Reynolds was hit on the foot on a single through the infield by Oneil Cruz. Ryne Stanek struck out two in the ninth for his second save.

Nolan Gorman had a one-out double off Jacob Jones (2-6) in the third and Crooks followed with his fifth home run of the season for a 2-0 lead.

Jordan Walker and José Fermín singled leading off the fourth, and Nathan Church hit a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 advantage.

Jared Triolo had two of Pittsburgh's six hits and drove in a run with a two-out single in the fifth.

Walker singled and scored on a two-out throwing error by shortstop Jacob Gonzalez for a run in the eighth.

Jones surrendered three runs on seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings.

St. Louis (68-68) improves to 6-2 on the season against the Pirates (65-71), who have scored five runs in their last four games.

The Pirates have not announced Saturday's starting pitcher. The Cardinals will send out RHP Kyle Leahy (10-4, 3.13 ERA).

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St. Louis Cardinals' Joshua Báez (22) hits a double in the fourth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas)

St. Louis Cardinals' Jimmy Crooks (8) celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas)

St. Louis Cardinals' Jimmy Crooks, right, watches his two-run home run in the third inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas)

St. Louis Cardinals' Quinn Mathews pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Jared Jones pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas)