In a rivalry that never disappoints, the New York Yankees clawed back from the brink Tuesday night, defeating the Boston Red Sox 4-3 to force a decisive Game 3 in their American League Wild Card Series. The win came at Yankee Stadium, where the ghosts of past October battles seemed to stir just enough drama to keep the series alive. Boston had jumped out to a 3-1 lead in Game 1 on Tuesday, thanks to solid pitching from starter Brayan Bello and a timely rally, but New York responded with grit in the rematch.
Bello's outing in Game 2 was shaky from the start. The Red Sox right-hander surrendered a first-inning homer to Ben Rice and labored through just two innings, allowing two runs before manager Alex Cora turned to the bullpen. Cora's aggressive use of lefties early on held the Yankees in check for a while—relievers like Justin Wilson and Justin Slaten kept things tight through five innings. But fatigue caught up. Garrett Whitlock, who hadn't gone deep into games much lately, was stretched for a second inning in the eighth and faltered, walking Jazz Chisholm Jr. before Austin Wells singled home the go-ahead run. That sequence, a mix of bold strategy and bad breaks, handed New York the edge they needed.
Indeed, the Yankees' offense, sparked by Wells and others, capitalized on Boston's pitching woes. Clarke Schmidt delivered for New York on the mound, limiting the Red Sox to three runs over six innings. Now, with elimination staring them down, the Yankees host Game 3 on Wednesday afternoon. Their probable starter remains under wraps, but the pressure is immense—Boston's Cora, ever the tactician, will look to exploit any cracks.
Elsewhere in the playoffs, the Los Angeles Dodgers punched their ticket to the NLDS with a commanding win over the Cincinnati Reds, while series involving the Padres and Guardians also head to Game 3s. The Yankees-Red Sox clash, however, carries that extra weight of history. However, as these teams gear up for the finale, one can't help but wonder if this renewed intensity signals a postseason shift for baseball's old guard.