Red Sox vs Yankees: 3 things you missed from Thursday night’s game

The Boston Red Sox lost their series opener to the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on Thursday night. With a long weekend ahead, here’s what you missed:

Gerrit Cole was dominant against everyone but Rafael Devers, who owns the man himself and at least 10 percent of his nine-year, $324 million salary.

While the Yankees ace is typically defiant in his off-mound antics, at this point all he can do is be impressed by Devers, who could be a free agent in just a few seasons:

“He’s just been able to hit everything. I mean, there just hasn’t been a mishit. Roll over one time. Line out one time. I mean, you’re supposed to fail 7 out of 10 times in this gig. I don’t know what the deal is,” Cole said.

While New York was able to hold on for a 6-5 victory, all of those Boston runs were knocked in by Devers, who had two home runs on the night as well.

Red Sox: Rafael Devers deserves the bag

If there were ever a doubt that Devers deserves to get paid, his performance on Thursday night served as a reminder. While Xander Bogaerts could be subject to a position change, and is close to the other side of 30 years old, Devers is without a doubt Boston’s top priority moving forward.

If the Sox were smart, they would keep both, of course. But Fenway Sports Group acts in mysterious ways.

Devers is likely to be an All-Star in this season’s midsummer classic. The numbers back that up, as after Thursday he’s slashing .330/.387/.598 with an OPS of .986. Pair that with his raw power numbers (19 home runs, 58 RBI) and a league-leading 106 hits and 27 doubles, and it’s easy to see why Chaim Bloom and the Boston front office believes Devers ceiling is a potential league MVP.

Yankees: Aaron Judge injury update

After the Yanks 6-5 win, Judge made it clear he wouldn’t be missing another game this series.

“Just precautionary stuff,” Judge said.

Okay, then. The AL MVP favorite said he’d be back in the lineup for Friday night’s game at Fenway Park, as well.

Even Red Sox pitcher Josh Winckowski, who suffered the defeat in Game 1, realized that facing New York’s vaunted lineup without the likes of Judge or Anthony Rizzo is far different than at full strength.

“I think Rizzo and Judge lengthen their lineup. I’m not gonna say the guys they had in there today are bad, by any means, but it felt like another big league lineup, to be honest,” Winckowski said.

Friday night will be the real deal. Luckily for Winckowski, he’ll be watching from the dugout.

2022 Yankees remain on a historical pace

Per ESPN stats and info, the Yankees are keeping up with the 1998 team, which went on to win the World Series. If this version of the Bronx Bombers can do the same, Aaron Boone will be a happy man.

That Yanks team had some true legends on it, but the 2022 iteration does as well.

In 20 years, what will we think of the likes of Judge, Cole and Giancarlo Stanton? Surely, some are headed for Cooperstown in the decades to come.

Many doubted this Yankees team headed into the season after they passed on the likes of Carlos Correa and Freddie Freeman during the offseason, instead going for (what many felt) were more modest upgrades.

This is why you’re fans, and I’m a writer. Maybe Brian Cashman knows what he’s doing after all.