‘Unexpected piece’ Willie Calhoun helps Yankees beat Red Sox with go-ahead homer in the 6th
With Aaron Judge on the injured list and Anthony Rizzo in need of a breather Saturday night, Aaron Boone said putting Willie Calhoun in the three-hole was an “easy” decision against the Red Sox.
“He’s hit for us. I would say he’s hit even better than his numbers would suggest,” Boone said of Calhoun, who owns a .246 average and a .742 OPS. “He’s just been a really nice, unexpected piece and an important piece for us as we’ve navigated a lot of injuries.”
Calhoun proved pivotal hours later, as his sixth-inning solo shot off Tanner Houck landed a go-ahead blow in a 3-1, series-tying win for the Yankees.
The line drive was Calhoun’s fifth home run of the season, and he’s hitting .310 with five doubles, two longballs and eight RBI over his last 12 games.
“I’m really just trusting the process and just trusting the work that I’ve been putting in with the hitting coaches,” Calhoun said afterward. “I feel like it’s starting to slowly benefit, and hopefully I can keep that rolling.”
Calhoun has also played in 39 games this season, the most major league action he’s seen since 2021 with the Rangers. A hit-by pitch broke his forearm and limited him to 75 games that season. Another hit-by-pitch broke his jaw and sent him to the hospital via airlift in 2020.
Those broken bones left Calhoun timid in the box for a while, but Boone felt the outfielder was in a good place when he arrived at spring training as a non-roster invitee a few months ago. Now the Yankees are reaping the rewards of his regained comfort.
“He’s always been a really good hitter,” said Isiah Kiner-Falefa, a past and present teammate. “And for him to be on the big stage tonight, Saturday night in the Bronx against Boston, and have success, I know it’s a big moment for him, and he’s gonna remember that one forever.”
Domingo German also delivered on Saturday. The righty held the Red Sox to one earned run — another Rafael Devers homer — over six innings. German also totaled six hits, two walks, five strikeouts and 86 pitches before Wandy Peralta, Tommy Kahnle and Clay Holmes kept Boston scoreless for the rest of the game.
“Managed it. Was good once again. I didn’t think he was as dominant as he was in L.A.,” Boone said of German, who surrendered one earned run over 6.2 innings against the Dodgers his last time out. “They squared some balls up on him tonight. But he made some big pitches when he had to. He had some big plays behind him. So just another strong start for what’s been a really good season so far for Domingo.”
German, the Yankees’ second-best starter this season, has a 2.20 ERA over his last seven outings and a 3.49 ERA overall. He attributes his recent success to the confidence that comes with reps, as well as changes to his offseason routine.
“It has to do with the experience gained over the years competing at this level,” German said. “Also, in the offseason, I wanted to prepare myself very well physically. When you put yourself in a good spot like that, you develop the confidence to be consistent in executing pitches.”
The Bombers’ first run came in the fourth when Gleyber Torres hit his 11th home run of the year off Houck. The Yankees tacked on another in the seventh inning when a Kyle Higashioka infield single got away from Christian Arroyo, allowing Kiner-Falefa to score.
Jake Bauers, meanwhile, prevented an additional Red Sox run in the third when he made a leaping catch at the wall in left.
With two games in the books, the series finale will feature two young right-handers on “Sunday Night Baseball,” as Clarke Schmidt and Brayan Bello are scheduled to pitch.
Schmidt is coming off a quality start, having allowed three earned runs over six innings against the White Sox on June 6. The 27-year-old has a 4.96 ERA this season, but he’s lowered that mark to 2.49 over his last four starts, permitting six earned runs over 21.2 innings.
Just 24, Bello has a 3.97 ERA through nine starts this year after getting his first taste of major league life last season.
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