Red Sox sweep Yankees, gain wild-card edge after 12-1 rout

The Boston Red Sox swept up the Bronx this weekend, taking three of four from the New York Yankees with a 12-1 rout on Saturday that included a seven-run ninth inning in Yankee Stadium, and leaving New York reeling as the teams head into the stretch run. The series pushed Boston ahead in the season series and helped the Red Sox reclaim a top American League wild card position, while leaving the Yankees to confront continuing defensive and consistency problems.

The decisive moment came in the ninth inning on Saturday, when a string of miscues by the Yankees turned a comfortable Boston lead into a runaway. Shortstop Anthony Volpe fielded a two-out grounder by David Hamilton but overthrew first baseman Ben Rice, allowing a run to score, then an ensuing balk by reliever Paul Blackburn advanced a runner before Carlos Narvaez hit a two-run homer. The sequence produced a seven-run frame and completed a 12-1 victory for Boston, according to game accounts.

Boston’s offense also received a boost from Trevor Story, who homered Saturday for his 20th of the season and became just the third shortstop in Red Sox history to post a 20-homer, 20-steal season, team and league reports said. The win...