Even though the Red Sox were just 1-7 entering Sunday’s matchup, the latest chapter of the Yankees/Red Sox rivalry scored impressive numbers for ESPN.
ESPN earned a 3.5 overnight rating for the Red Sox’ win over the Yankees Sunday night, up 119% from last year (STL/MIL: 1.6), and the highest MLB overnight on ESPN since August 2009 (NYY/BOS: 3.7).
For some perspective, the season’s first Sunday Night Baseball game — Giants/Dodgers on ESPN2 April 3 — drew a 1.4 overnight.
The game actually outdrew Sunday’s other Boston rivalry game, ABC’s Celtics/Heat NBA matchup (3.2). Of course, Celtics/Heat aired directly opposite the final round of The Masters.
Yankees/Red Sox earned a 17.8 rating in Boston, the highest since April 2009 (NYY/BOS: 20.7). The game drew an 8.0 in New York.
(Numbers from ESPN, via Fang’s Bites)
