In a decisive Game 3 that had the Bronx buzzing with tension, the New York Yankees delivered a 3-0 shutout victory over the Boston Red Sox, punching their ticket to the ALDS against the Blue Jays. Cam Schlittler, the rookie sensation, dominated from the mound, racking up 12 strikeouts in what might be remembered as his breakout performance. The Yankees' bats came alive just enough in the second inning, with Giancarlo Stanton ripping a double and errors from Boston's defense gifting two more runs. It was over before it really started for the Red Sox, who managed only scattered hits against Schlittler's sharp curveball.
Indeed, Boston's hopes hinged on their bullpen late, but Aroldis Chapman, the veteran closer now wearing Red Sox colors, couldn't stem the tide. Entering in the eighth with the game still within reach—though already scoreless for Boston—Chapman walked the leadoff man and surrendered a single that loaded the bases after a fielder's choice. However, it was his earlier outings in the series that haunted; the 37-year-old fireballer, once a Yankees staple, had locked down Game 1 with a shaky four-out save, striking out key hitters amid bases-loaded drama. This time, though, fatigue showed. Chapman's fastball, dipping below 98 mph, betrayed him as the Yankees tacked on insurance he couldn't prevent.
The rivalry, always electric, felt one-sided tonight. Boston's starters, including rookie Connelly Early, faltered early, allowing Stanton's double to set the tone. Moreover, the Red Sox's offense, powered by names like Alex Bregman, went quiet—zero runs on five hits. Schlittler's poise contrasted sharply with Chapman's visible frustration on the mound, a reminder of how playoffs expose cracks in even the steeliest arms. New York now shifts focus to Toronto, but this win revives old ghosts for Boston fans still smarting from the series opener.
Yet as the Yankees celebrate, one wonders if Chapman's command issues signal deeper troubles for a Red Sox squad rebuilding on the fly.