The Yankees Red Sox Wild Card Series lasted two games. New York beat Boston 9-0 in the opener and 9-2 in Game 2, completing the best-of-three sweep by an 18-2 aggregate score, according to Associated Press reporting.
The result sends the Yankees to an American League Division Series against AL East champion Tampa Bay, scheduled to begin Saturday. Boston’s season ended after it reached the playoffs despite a 32-46 start.
How did the Yankees sweep the Red Sox?
New York built a 2-1 lead in Wednesday’s clincher before pulling away with six runs in the sixth inning. The rally began when Spencer Jones reached on a dropped third strike that initially was ruled an out at first base. Video review reversed that call. Jones then took second and third as Boston made another throwing mistake.
Rookie George Lombard Jr. followed with his first postseason RBI. Jazz Chisholm Jr. added a single, Trent Grisham laid down a bunt single to load the bases, and Austin Wells drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Ryan McMahon’s groundout added another run before Boston intentionally walked Ben Rice. Cody Bellinger then hit a three-run homer to right-center, making it 8-1.
Max Fried gave New York six innings of three-hit pitching in Game 2, with six strikeouts and one walk. Luis García Jr. had three hits in his first postseason start and hit a fourth-inning homer that put the Yankees ahead. Bellinger finished with four RBIs.
Boston scored its first run on a Willson Contreras homer, ending a 26-inning postseason scoreless streak, and Nick Sogard added a seventh-inning homer off Will Warren. The Red Sox were also without leadoff hitter Roman Anthony, who had a hand injury.
What did the series numbers show?
The Yankees had a pronounced edge at the plate. Boston went 7-for-60, a .117 average, and struck out 18 times over the two games. New York batted .382 in the series, with every starter recording at least one hit.
The Yankees also converted opportunities that had been a weaker point during the regular season. They went 9-for-20 with runners in scoring position, a .450 mark, after finishing the regular season 19th in Major League Baseball at .246 in those situations.
Manager Aaron Boone credited New York’s two starting pitchers after the clincher. Fried followed Cam Schlittler, who led the Yankees’ 9-0 Game 1 victory.
What comes next for New York?
The Yankees were set to travel to Florida on Friday for the series against the Rays. Tampa Bay won the clubs’ regular-season matchup 7-6, the AP reported. Gerrit Cole was considered likely, rather than confirmed, to start Game 1 for New York.
Aaron Judge missed the Boston series with a calf injury and said he was uncertain whether he would be available against Tampa Bay. A year earlier, Boston won the opening game of its Wild Card Series against New York, but the Yankees recovered to take that series as well.
This story draws on original reporting from Daring Fireball.