BOSTON — The Yankees primarily roster Amed Rosario for a bat that has proven deadly against left-handed pitchers and is showing more and more power by the day.
The Yankees primarily roster Ryan McMahon for a glove that helped steady their infield defense after the trade deadline last year.
On Wednesday, manager Aaron Boone did a nice job of helping both players’ strengths shine during the same game.
The Yankees’ primary third basemen became the offensive and defensive standouts of a 4-1 victory over the Red Sox at Fenway Park, where Boone leaned on Rosario’s power to supply a lead and McMahon’s glove to help Max Fried preserve it.
Against lefty Ranger Suarez, the righty-hitting Rosario got the nod and immediately rewarded that nod. He stepped up with two on base and two outs in the first and launched a three-run shot over the Green Monster for the only runs the Yankees would need.
In 17 games and just 55 plate appearances, Rosario has rocketed four home runs. He totaled nine homers the previous two seasons.
The likely source of his power finding a new gear: three years of work at the data-driven baseball factory Driveline, where he has focused in particular on bat speed.
Over the past three years, his average swing has gone from 71.2 mph to 73.2 mph to 74.3 mph.
“I felt there was a chance to [bump up the bat speed],” Rosario said through interpreter Marlon Abreu. “If we worked on [bat speed and launch angle], you can improve on power. And the results have been progressing little by little.”
Rosario used some more power to lift a sacrifice fly into left to score Aaron Judge from third base in the third inning, which would account for the final Yankees run — all of which were driven in by Rosario.
His job done, he tagged out in the top of the sixth inning, when Ben Rice pinch hit against righty Zack Kelly, and by the bottom of the inning, the Yankees could insert their best third base defender.
No one in baseball induces more ground balls to third than Fried, who kept McMahon busy for the final three innings that saw a pair of sparkling plays.
It took just three batters for McMahon to make his presence known, Andruw Monasterio sending a ground ball down the third base line that McMahon backhanded on the run. From foul territory and fading away, McMahon sidearmed a strike in the air to Paul Goldschmidt for the final out of the inning.
“I’ve seen that play way too many times with him running into the foul ground and throwing the ball in the money,” Fried said of McMahon, as the two were longtime National League rivals with the Braves and Rockies, respectively.
In the next inning, it was Isiah Kiner-Falefa who tried to sneak a would-be double past McMahon, who took a step to his right, dove and speared the ball out of the air while fully extended.
“Wow,” Boone said after a strong night from his third basemen. “I mean, those are two tremendous plays.”
