BOSTON — Josh Donaldson launched a grand slam, the Yankees’ third in the last two nights, and Aaron Hicks homered for the second time in as many games as the Bombers held on for a 6-5 victory over the Red Sox on Thursday evening at Fenway Park.
The early offensive support helped New York outlast an impressive performance by Rafael Devers, who homered twice and drove in all five Boston runs — all off Yankees starter Gerrit Cole, who has surrendered six career homers to Devers, his most against any big leaguer.
Donaldson cleared the center-field wall in the third inning for his eighth home run of the year, followed immediately by Hicks, who belted rookie right-hander Josh Winckowski’s next pitch over the fence in right-center for his fifth homer.
Donaldson’s slam surely felt familiar for the Yankees, who watched Aaron Judge and Hicks each hit a bases-loaded blast in a 16-0 rout of the Pirates on Wednesday.
Other than his damaging showdowns against Devers, Cole was solid, navigating six innings of five-hit ball with seven strikeouts and three walks. Devers hit a two-run shot in the third inning and connected again in the fifth for a three-run shot, prompting Cole’s shoulders to sag before he stretched his arms outward, searching for answers.
Despite the power show, a fifth-inning misplay proved to be the difference in the game. Jose Trevino followed a Hicks triple with a sky-high popup that eluded first baseman Franchy Cordero, falling on the infield grass for a run-scoring double — briefly changed by the official scorer to an error, then changed back, restoring Trevino’s hit and RBI.
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