Sunday’s regular-season finale at Fenway Park against the Yankees was not a game the Red Sox felt any pressure to win. They had long ago clinched all there was to be clinched.
But laying a 10-2 beating on their rivals was satisfying nonetheless after a series of unimpressive games in recent days. It surely eased some worried minds among their fans, too.
J.D. Martinez belted a three-run homer and Xander Bogaerts added a two-run shot as the Sox snapped a three-game losing streak.
Eight pitchers held the Yankees to four hits and struck out 15.
The Red Sox finished with 108 victories. They are one of 12 teams in major league history to reach that mark, the first since the 2001 Seattle Mariners won 116.
The next game will be on Friday at Fenway Park against the winner ofWednesday night’s wild card game in New York between the Athletics and Yankees.
“Can’t wait for that one,” manager Alex Cora said.
With the exception of a few pitchers, the Sox will be off on Monday then start three days of workouts at Fenway on Tuesday.
In what was an inconsequential game, there were some performances that held value.
Eduardo Nunez played third base for the first time since Sept. 19, going six innings in the field after recovering from right knee and left hamstring injuries. He was 2 for 3 with a walk.
Nunez collided with Yankees starter Luis Cessa when he reached first base on an infield single in the first inning and twisted his right ankle. But he stayed in the game.
“I needed to play and I felt fine,” he said. “Once I got up I was OK.”
The notoriously free-swinging Nunez walked in his final plate appearance of the season. He had 16 on the season.
“We never saw that coming,” Cora cracked.
Rick Porcello retired six of the seven batters he faced in final preparation for the playoffs.
Cora said his postseason rotation would be Chris Sale in Game 1, David Price in Game 2, and Porcello “most likely” for Game 3.
If the Sox face the Yankees, the back end of their rotation could make the difference. Porcello faced the Yankees four times this season and allowed six earned runs over 23⅓ innings.
Nathan Eovaldi also saw the Yankees four times and gave up five earned runs over 23⅓ innings.
“I feel like we have our pitching set up well,” Porcello said.
Eduardo Rodriguez, (13-5) who was awarded the win, threw a perfect fifth inning and struck out two. Cora said Saturday he wanted to see improvement from Rodriguez and he got it, as the lefthander was far more aggressive in his fourth consecutive relief appearance.
“That was good,” said Cora, who particularly liked a changeup Rodriguez threw to strike out Brett Gardner and a backdoor cutter that Aaron Judge took for a called third strike. “That was a lot better than [Saturday].”
Late-inning relievers Ryan Brasier, Matt Barnes, and Craig Kimbrel all pitched scoreless innings.
Barnes struck out Gary Sanchez with a 98-m.p.h. fastball to end his outing. Kimbrel struck out the side in the ninth inning, throwing 12 of 16 pitches for strikes and hitting 99.
Martinez was 2 for 3. He finished at .330 with 43 home runs and 130 RBIs. The last hitter to reach those marks was Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera in 2013. The last Red Sox player was Ted Williams in 1949.
The 43 homers were the most for a player in his first season with the Red Sox.
“I think I’m more proud of us winning 108 games, really,” Martinez said.
Martinez’s transition to the Red Sox was one of the easiest a free agent has had.
“Nothing really changed,” he said. “Stay doing what I do, stay grinding and working.”
The Sox won the season series against the Yankees, 10-9. The Yankees finished 100-62. Maybe the teams will meet again. Their last postseason matchup was the classic 2004 ALCS.
“Now it starts. Now we go,” Cora said.
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.