In a nail-biting opener to the AL Wild Card Series, the Boston Red Sox outlasted the New York Yankees 3-1 on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, injecting fresh drama into one of baseball's fiercest rivalries. The victory, sealed by a stifling bullpen performance, puts Boston one win away from advancing, while the Yankees now face elimination in Game 2. Indeed, the tension was palpable from the first pitch, with both teams showcasing the grit that defines their storied clashes.
Carlos Rodón's Struggles Highlight Yankees' Woes. Starting on the mound for New York, Rodón labored through five innings, surrendering two runs on six hits and striking out just four. His command faltered early, allowing Boston's Masataka Yoshida to rip a double in the third that plated the game's first run. Rodón, who entered with a 3.45 ERA for the season, couldn't find his rhythm against a Red Sox lineup that pounced on mistakes. Meanwhile, the Yankees' offense managed only five hits, with Ben Rice's solo homer in the sixth providing their lone spark—a towering shot to left that briefly hushed the Bronx crowd.
Over in Boston's dugout, Aroldis Chapman's addition via trade last summer paid immediate dividends. The veteran lefty, now closing for the Red Sox, slammed the door in the ninth, fanning two Yankees in a scoreless frame to notch the save. Chapman's velocity touched 99 mph, a reminder of why he remains a force despite his nomadic career path—from the Yankees to Cincinnati, now anchoring Boston's pen. Fernando Cruz, the Red Sox reliever, also shone, tossing a perfect eighth with two strikeouts, his slider baffling New York hitters.
The Red Sox, however, weren't flawless. Their center fielder, Jarren Duran, misplayed a fly ball in the seventh, nearly gifting the Yankees a run, but the defense steadied. Boston's starter, Garrett Crochet, dominated with seven innings of one-run ball, fanning nine and walking none. His acquisition in the offseason has been a game-changer, transforming a middling rotation into a playoff contender. Yet, for all the heroics, questions linger about New York's lineup depth; Alex Bregman, rumored in trade talks but still an Astro in spirit here, wasn't a factor, but his absence underscores the Yankees' reliance on stars like Aaron Judge, who went 0-for-4.
Game 2 looms Wednesday, with the Yankees turning to their ace in a must-win. The rivalry's playoff pulse beats stronger than ever—what twists await in this high-stakes duel?
