Yankees stymie blazing Red Sox for nail-biting win in series opener

It is not yet October, but if this is what it is going to be like for the Yankees, it may be time to load up on the antacids. On the first night of a crucial four-game series against the Red Sox, who were breathing down the Yankees’ necks for the top AL wild card, runs were at a premium.But pitching and defense — namely, Cody Bellinger’s left arm — were enough to save the day.  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.

Bellinger’s perfect throw home to nail a runner in the seventh inning kept a one-run lead intact, allowing the bullpen to preserve the shutout and ultimately secure a nail-biting 1-0 win over the Red Sox on Friday night in The Bronx. In relief of Cam Schlittler, the Yankees (76-58) had to use the best of their bullpen with a doubleheader looming Saturday, but they made it worth it as Brent Headrick, Paul Blackburn and David Bednar got the job done to stay four games back of the Rays for the division and move to three games ahead of the Red Sox (73-61) for the top wild card. Blackburn was in trouble in the top of the seventh, when he had runners on second and third with one out and Willson Contreras lifted a fly ball to left field.But Bellinger lined himself up, made the catch and unleashed a 99.7 mph throw home, a one-hopper right into the glove of Austin Wells, who tagged the speedy Ceddanne Rafaela for the inning-ending double play to the roar of 43,476. There was plenty riding on Bellinger’s left arm, and not just in the Yankees trying to create some breathing room between them and the Red Sox.

The season series is also on the line, which could loom large if it ends up being used as a tiebreaker to determine home-field advantage in a potential AL wild-card series, and the Yankees evened it up 5-5 on Friday night. Schlittler hardly had his best command — he tied a career high with five walks — but still tossed 5 ²/₃ shutout ...