Yankees’ Austin Wells has big four-RBI night — but still falters in key spot

This year has mostly been a struggle for Austin Wells, who began to live up to his promise last season before falling in the latter part of the year.

And even on a night when the catcher had perhaps his most productive night of the year, it ended in disappointment in a 10-7 loss to Boston.

After Wells kept the Yankees in the game with a three-run homer and an RBI double off tough left-hander Garrett Crochet earlier in the game, the lefty-swinging Wells came up short with a chance to tie it in the bottom of the eighth, when he struck out against former Yankee southpaw Justin Wilson, stranding pinch runner Anthony Volpe at second base to end the inning.

Still, maybe his success against Crochet will spark the lefty-swinging catcher.

“I expect so much of him offensively and think so much of him offensively,” Aaron Boone said. “He’s capable of that right there against the very best left-on-left.”

Wells gave the Yankees their lone lead of the night with a three-run blast off Crochet — who had allowed just one homer to a left-handed hitter all season prior to Saturday night.