Masataka Yoshida Tags Game-Tying Homer As ‘Biggest Highlight’ Of Red Sox Career
Heading into the ninth inning with two outs and the Boston Red Sox down 3-1 against the New York Yankees, it seemed like the game was over.
Dominic Smith came into the game to pinch hit for Boston’s hottest hitter on Friday in Romy Gonzalez and hit a single to right field. Yoshida came up to bat, still searching for his first hit and came up with a game-tying home run that sent the Red Sox into extra innings with the Yankees.
On a Ceddanne Rafaela two-run long ball, Boston would go on to win the game 5-3 in the 10th inning.
“Situation wise and the stadium, here in Yankee Stadium, I think that’s one of the biggest highlights of my career with the Red Sox,” Yoshida told reporters via translator, per NESN’s postgame coverage.
The designated hitter has just three home runs this season with his last one coming on April 20 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Yoshida came back into the lineup on June 11 after sustaining a thumb injury in April and has recently gone on a hot streak. The 30-year-old is batting .259 with a .327 on-base percentage this season.
Over his last 10 games, he is hitting .364 with 12 hits, a homer, six RBIs and nine runs.
“(Yoshida), he’s finding his rhythm,” Cora told reporters after Friday’s game. “We know he’s a good hitter, he hasn’t hit for power but short porch in right, got a good pitch to hit then drove it.”
The Red Sox and Yankees continue the series on Saturday at Yankee Stadium. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. ET on NESN.