NFL
By Billy Lewis:
The New York Yankees hosted their hated rival, the Boston Red Sox, on Tuesday night in Game 1 of their Wild Card series. It is the two teams’ first playoff matchup since the 2021 American League Wild Card game. In 2021, the Wild Card Game was a winner-take-all affair. Luckily, for the Yankees, the Wild Card is now a best-of-3 game round.
Max Fried Shines in Yankees Playoff Debut
Game 1 saw a thrilling lefty vs. lefty pitching matchup. Max Fried took the mound for the Yankees, while Garrett Crochet pitched for Boston. Both starters were on their games, and fans were treated to a pitcher’s duel.
New York threatened early in the game. Paul Goldschmidt and Aaron Judge both singled to make it runners on first and second with no outs in the first inning. One adage in baseball is “you have to get to great starters early, otherwise they’ll settle in.” The Bronx Bombers had a glorious chance to jump Crochet early. Instead, Crochet struck out Cody Bellinger and induced a double-play ball from Giancarlo Stanton.
Fried retired the Red Sox in order at the top of the second. Crochet responded by getting the first two men out in the bottom of the second. Then Anthony Volpe, the recipient of plenty of Bronx Boo Birds during the regular season, deposited a solo home run into the right field seats.
Crochet would settle in and retire the next 16 Yankees, until Volpe singled in the 8th. Fried was up to the challenge as well. Though he worked himself into and out of a couple of jams, the 2025 Yankees’ ace did not allow Boston to score.
Fried would pitch into the 7th inning, getting Jarren Durand to ground out to Goldschmidt, with a great cover by Fried. After 102 pitches, Aaron Boone decided Fried’s night was done. Fried left the mound to a raucous ovation, going 6.1 IP 0 R in his Bronx playoff debut.
Yankees Bullpen Blunder
Luke Weaver came in to relieve Fried, and the Red Sox lineup breathed a sigh of relief. Weaver battled with the first batter he faced, Ceddanne Rafaela, but eventually ended the ten-pitch at-bat with a walk. The Red Sox went to work quickly after. The next batter, Nick Sogard, doubled, making it runners second and third with one out.
The Yankees did not capitalize on their early opportunity in the 1st inning. The Red Sox made sure to capitalize in the 7th. Pinch hitter Masataka Yoshida delivered a two-run single off the bench. Just like that, Weaver’s night was done. After Fried kept the Red Sox scoreless for 6.1, Weaver allowed two runs in three batters.
Fernando Cruz came in and kept the game at 2-1. Crochet would respond with a shutdown inning of his own, in the midst of his 16 straight Yankees retired. Crochet finally cracked when Volpe hit a one-out single in the 8th. Austin Wells followed Volpe, but Crochet struck him out, leaving the game with 117 pitches and just the one run allowed.
Aroldis Chapman got the final out in the 8th, and the Yankees brought out David Bednar to try to keep the game at 2-1. Bednar was able to get two quick outs, but Trevor Story kept the Red Sox’s 9th alive with a two-out single. Story stole second (which was upheld on video review) and old nemesis Alex Bregman drove him in for a huge insurance run.
Down 3-1, Goldschmidt and Judge both singled again to get the first two runners on base. Bellinger followed this time, singling as well to load the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth. Bregman’s insurance run turned out to be huge for Boston.
Yankees End the Game as they Started it
Chapman took on Stanton with the bases loaded. Stanton has had many electric Postseason moments with the Yankees; Tuesday night was not one of them. Chapman would strike out Stanton, get Jazz Chisholm Jr. to pop out to shallow right, and finish the game with a Trent Grisham strikeout.
The Yankees ended the game as they began it, not being able to get the big hit with runners in scoring position.
Perhaps the good thing for the Yankees is that there is no time to harp on this loss. Game 2 will be tonight in Yankee Stadium. Carlos Rodon will get the ball against Brayan Bello.
