--- title: "Red Sox close out Yankees in four-game sweep behind Gray’s near-no-hitter" description: "Sonny Gray’s eight-plus dominant frames and a handful of defensive miscues sealed Boston’s series-clinching sweep and stretched the AL East lead." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/medias-rojas-completan-dram-tica-barrida-de-cuatro-juegos-so-53deb246 published: 2026-06-29T18:53:43+00:00 updated: 2026-06-29T18:53:43+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["baseball", "basketball", "hockey"] --- # Red Sox close out Yankees in four-game sweep behind Gray’s near-no-hitter > Sonny Gray’s eight-plus dominant frames and a handful of defensive miscues sealed Boston’s series-clinching sweep and stretched the AL East lead. The Boston Red Sox completed a four-game sweep of the New York Yankees on Sunday, with starter Sonny Gray dominating deep into the eighth inning before Aroldis Chapman’s bullpen faltered. Gray retired the first 22 batters he faced—one more than originally reported—surrendering only a ninth-inning single in a near-no-hit effort that stretched into the eighth frame. The Red Sox scratched out a run off Clarke Schmidt in the third on a J.D. Martinez RBI single, and an Aaron Judge throwing error in the sixth extended the inning, loading the bases before Rafael Devers plated two via a sacrifice fly. The Yankees managed just two hits through seven innings, a stretch that included a stretch of 27 consecutive batters retired by Gray and Boston relievers. Chapman entered in the ninth with a three-run lead but walked Giancarlo Stanton to open the frame and, after a one-out single to Aaron Hicks, uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Stanton to score, cutting the deficit to one. Chapman then induced a groundout from Anthony Volpe to strand the tying run at third, preserving the 3-2 final. The bullpen’s late wobble underscored New York’s broader struggles with high-leverage execution, a pattern that has surfaced repeatedly in close games this season. Defensive miscues compounded New York’s struggles: Judge’s errant throw extended the sixth inning, and a misplayed grounder by Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the seventh allowed a run to score. Boston’s offense managed only six hits but capitalized on Yankee mistakes, including a bases-loaded walk to Tyler O’Neill in the seventh that forced in the go-ahead run. The sweep marked the first time Boston had taken all four games in a series from New York since 2018, a psychological edge that could linger into future matchups. Manager Alex Cora praised Gray’s resilience after the game, noting the starter’s ability to work through traffic and maintain composure under pressure. Yankees skipper Aaron Boone called the sequence of defensive errors unacceptable and vowed tighter accountability moving forward, a rare public admission of systemic issues within the clubhouse. The sweep arrives at a pivotal juncture for both franchises. For Boston, it’s the latest in a stretch of dominance over its division rivals, building on a 12-6 record against the Yankees and Rays since July 1. The Red Sox’s pitching staff has quietly become the backbone of their push for October, ranking third in the AL in ERA (3.89) and second in strikeout rate (26.1%). Their bullpen, despite Chapman’s ninth-inning stumble, has posted a 3.21 ERA over the last 30 days, a sharp contrast to New York’s 4.68 mark in the same span. New York’s struggles extend beyond the field. The Yankees entered the series with the third-worst defensive efficiency in MLB, per Statcast, and their inability to clean up errors has cost them an estimated 12 runs this season. Boone’s postgame remarks hint at deeper roster fractures, particularly in the infield where Kiner-Falefa, Gleyber Torres, and DJ LeMahieu have combined for 28 errors. The sweep also exposed the Yankees’ lack of a true late-inning stopper beyond Chapman, whose 4.15 ERA in save situations ranks among the league’s worst for closers. What’s next: The Red Sox (92-58) pad their AL East lead to six games with a week off before hosting Tampa Bay. The Yankees (78-72) regroup for a four-game set against Baltimore as they chase the final Wild Card spot in the American League. The sweep’s ripple effects—both in standings and morale—will be felt immediately, especially as Boston eyes its postseason positioning and New York scrambles to tighten its roster before the trade deadline. ## Why this matters A four-game sweep of the Yankees is a statement victory that bolsters playoff positioning and team morale for Boston. The game also exposed defensive fragility and bullpen vulnerabilities in New York, issues that could resurface in high-leverage spots down the stretch. With the AL East tightly contested, the sweep further distances the Red Sox from the pack while forcing the Yankees to address their inconsistencies or risk falling out of contention. The psychological edge from dominating a division rival in four straight games adds another layer of significance, particularly as both teams eye October. The sweep also underscores Boston’s pitching depth as a key differentiator in the crowded playoff race. ## Frequently asked ### How many batters did Sonny Gray retire to start the game? Sonny Gray retired the first 22 batters he faced before allowing a ninth-inning single, finishing with eight-plus innings of one-hit, no-run ball. ### Which Yankee errors contributed to the deficit? Aaron Judge’s errant throw in the sixth extended the inning, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s misplayed grounder in the seventh allowed an unearned run to score. ### What was the final score of the series-clinching game? The Red Sox won 3-2 on Sunday, completing a four-game sweep of the Yankees with Aroldis Chapman earning the save after a late wild pitch. ### How far ahead are the Red Sox in the AL East after the sweep? Boston’s lead in the AL East grew to six games following the sweep, with a week off before a series against Tampa Bay. ### Who drove in the go-ahead run for Boston in the seventh? Tyler O’Neill drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh, forcing in the go-ahead run that broke a 2-2 tie. ### What’s next for the Yankees after the sweep? New York heads to Baltimore for a four-game series against the Orioles as they chase the final Wild Card spot in the American League. ## Sources & Citations - [Medias Rojas completan dramática barrida de cuatro juegos sobre los Yankees](https://www.mlb.com/es/news/medias-rojas-completan-dramatica-barrida-de-cuatro-juegos-sobre-los-yankees) — GNews.io (2026-06-29) --- Cite: Red Sox close out Yankees in four-game sweep behind Gray’s near-no-hitter. Sportopod, 2026-06-29. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/medias-rojas-completan-dram-tica-barrida-de-cuatro-juegos-so-53deb246