Yankees provided plenty of reasons for optimism while passing 12-game test
BOSTON — It did not end well.
The Yankees were down six runs after one inning Sunday night in the finale of this 12-game gauntlet and, though their long-ball acumen helped make this a contest, they still fell 6-4 to the Red Sox.
Yet considering all the implications of these dozen games, the Yankees did well against three AL teams who were leading their divisions when this span began on Sept. 2, plus a Red Sox club that had dominated them this year and also was in playoff position. The Yankees went 7-5 overall by taking two of three from Houston, Toronto and Boston, and losing two of three to Detroit.
The bad news: The Blue Jays kept winning in this period as well and only enhanced their hold on the AL East with what is now a four-game lead with 13 games to play.
