Nunez unapologetic after baserunning error deflates late Red Sox rally

For a split second, it looked like the Boston Red Sox were mounting a ninth-inning comeback against the New York Yankees.

In a 5-3 game, Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman walked the first three batters he faced to load the bases. Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi hit a deep fly ball, and Jackie Bradley scored after tagging up at third base.

The problem was that Eduardo Nunez tried to advance to third from second, and was promptly thrown out by outfielder Aaron Hicks. Despite the misjudgment, Nunez told reporters after the game he won't change his mindset the next time an opportunity presents itself.

"If it happened tomorrow, I would take the chance tomorrow again," Nunez said, according to the Providence Journal's Tim Britton. "That’s how we play the game. That’s why we’re in first place. We run aggressively."

Instead of having two on and one out, the Red Sox had two outs and the potential tying run at second. Mitch Moreland flew out to end the game.

Despite the loss, manager John Farrell generally approves of the team's aggression on the basepaths, even if it doesn't always work out.

"I do believe there’s a means to an end with this," Farrell said. "And while the outs are going to be glaring, I still feel like when we can put pressure on the defense, we’re going to look to set that tone."

Had it not been for a five-run eighth inning where the Yankees sent 11 batters to the plate, the Red Sox wouldn't have needed to play catch-up in the first place.

With a 65-50 record, the Red Sox still lead the AL East by 3 1/2 games over the second-place Yankees with two more games to be played in the Bronx over the weekend.