Rice drives in 3 runs as Yankees beat Red Sox 9-2 to earn a doubleheader split

NEW YORK (AP) — Ben Rice had a two-run single in New York's five-run eighth inning and finished with three RBIs as the Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 9-2 Saturday in the nightcap and earned a doubleheader split.

The Yankees pulled rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr. after the third inning with right knee discomfort. The 21-year-old tweaked his knee on a check swing in the second inning and took another at-bat before exiting.

Ceddanne Rafaela hit an RBI single in a four-run ninth as Boston beat New York 6-0 in the opener.

The Yankees evened the season series at six games apiece and moved three games ahead of the Red Sox for the AL’s top wild-card spot.

After Brent Headrick stranded Willson Contreras at third following the Boston first baseman’s triple, the Yankees had seven hits in the eighth and opened a 9-2 lead.

Rice hit a tying single in New York’s three-run third off Brayan Bello (5-7) and capped the big inning with a two-run single for New York’s 13th hit

Amed Rosario had an RBI single and Austin Wells added a two-run single as the Yankees scored nine runs for the fifth time since the All-Star break

Luis García had three hits and added a bases-loaded groundout to give the Yankees the lead. Jazz Chisholm and rookie Spencer Jones added sacrifice flies as New York scored at least seven runs for the fourth time in its last seven games.

Coming off a second injured list stint due to a bone bruise in his left elbow, Max Fried allowed one run and three hits in 3 2/3 innings. The left-hander struck out four and walked one while throwing 63 pitches in his first start since Aug. 13.

Paul Blackburn stranded two in the sixth and Brent Headrick stranded Contreras at third in the eighth.

Nick Sogard homered for the Red Sox. After opener Alec Gamboa threw 18 pitches to five hitters, Bello permitted four runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings

Boston LHP Ranger Suarez (5-3, 3.35 ERA) opposes New York RHP Will Warren (8-6, 4.39) in the finale of the four-game series on Sunday.

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Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello throws in the second inning during the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the New York Yankees, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)

Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong, left, tags out New York Yankees' Luis García Jr. (26) after Spencer Jones hit into a fielder's choice in the second inning during the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)

New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried throws in the third inning during the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)

New York Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. hits a sacrifice fly, scoring Ben Rice, in the third inning during the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jackson Chourio and William Contreras homered in the first inning and the Milwaukee Brewers stayed ahead the rest of the way to defeat the Texas Rangers 5-3 on Saturday night.

The MLB-leading Brewers won their fourth in a row and handed Texas its fourth straight loss. The Rangers remained two games behind AL West leader Houston, which lost 6-2 to the New York Mets earlier Saturday.

Brandon Nimmo hit a two-run homer and Cody Freeman added a solo shot for Texas.

Rangers starter Cal Quantrill gave up homers to two of the first four batters he faced.

Chourio's 20th homer of the season came on a night when fans received cereal bowls bearing his name as they entered American Family Field. Quantrill was a strike away from getting out of the inning before Contreras connected on a 2-2 pitch and sent a 409-foot shot to left.

Milwaukee's Luis Lara had RBI singles in the second and seventh innings.

Texas trailed 5-1 before rallying to bring the tying run to the plate in the eighth.

Corey Seager drew a leadoff walk and came home one out later on Nimmo’s 426-foot homer off Chad Patrick. Ezequiel Duran greeted Antonio Senzatela with a single before Jake Burger and Danny Jansen grounded out.

Trevor Megill worked the ninth to earn his 25th save in 27 opportunities.

Quantrill (6-5) ended his six-inning stint by retiring 14 straight batters. He had a season-high eight strikeouts.

Milwaukee’s Shane Drohan (7-5) struck out six in five innings. The only run he allowed came on Freeman’s fifth-inning homer.

The Rangers ran themselves out of a potential rally in the third.

Nimmo’s two-out infield single could have loaded the bases, but Freeman tried scoring from second on the play and Brewers second baseman Brice Turang easily threw him out.

Kumar Rocker (5-10, 4.41 ERA) pitches for Texas and Dustin May (6-8, 4.58) starts for Milwaukee in the series finale Sunday.

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Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras (24) tags out Texas Rangers' Cody Freeman at home during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Texas Rangers' Corey Seager tags Milwaukee Brewers' Luis Lara (18) out at second base during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Texas Rangers' Cody Freeman hits a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio hits a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras gestures as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)