The Boston Red Sox took the first game of the weekend series over the New York Yankees by a score of 2-1. The Red Sox have now won three of the first four games in the season series and are playing their best baseball of the season.

The impetus for the victory was Garrett Crochet’s 8 1/3, one-run performance. Crochet was dominant for the majority of the game. He made one mistake over the course of 107 pitches. That one mistake was put onto Landsdowne Street to tie the game in the ninth inning. While Crochet didn’t record the win, he put the team in a position to take the victory.

Crochet wasn’t the only hero, though. Carlos Narvaez deserves credit for throwing out a runner at third and the walk-off base hit. Ceddane Rafaela and Trevor Story deserve credit for opening the scoring and playing solid defense.

After the game, Alex Cora gave credit to another off-the-field force – the crowd.

“The last few years, this game feels like it’s 50-50 as far as the fans,” Cora told the media during his postgame availability. “People showed up early, they were loud, and it was a good night here.”

The crowd was certainly behind the team on Friday. The excitement when Garrett Crochet walked back out to the mound for the ninth inning was palpable. The lefty himself could feel the excitement.

“I could tell the fans wanted me out there,” Crochet said. “I wish I could have finished it out.”

Having been to several rivalry games over the past few years, I can attest to the fact that the crowd was alive tonight. The prospect promotions combined with the play over the last few weeks have reinvigorated the fan base. Look for another lively crowd Saturday night when Hunter Dobbins takes the mound for the second game of the series.