The Boston Red Sox have seized a pivotal 1-0 lead in the best-of-three American League Wild Card Series, triumphing over the New York Yankees 3-1 in a tense Game 1 at Yankee Stadium. The dramatic contest culminated with Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman striking out Trent Grisham, leaving the bases loaded and silencing the home crowd as Boston secured the crucial win.
The cornerstone of Boston's victory was an unforgettable performance from ace Garrett Crochet. The 26-year-old southpaw, acquired in a December blockbuster trade and later signed to a long-term extension, delivered precisely the dominant outing the Red Sox had envisioned. In his first career postseason start, Crochet was masterful, baffling the Yankees lineup through 7 2/3 innings. He surrendered just one run on Anthony Volpe's solo homer, allowing only four hits and one walk while racking up an impressive 11 strikeouts. His 117-pitch effort, a career-high, showcased why he has become the team's undisputed ace.
On the opposing mound, Yankees ace Max Fried also delivered a gutsy performance, pitching 6 1/3 scoreless innings. He allowed only four hits and three walks, striking out six, and kept the Bronx Bombers ahead 1-0 until the seventh inning. However, the Yankees' well-documented bullpen struggles proved to be their Achilles' heel.
Manager Aaron Boone's decision to pull Fried after 6 1/3 innings set the stage for a critical collapse. Reliever Luke Weaver, a feel-good story from 2024 who has battled inconsistency in 2025, immediately faltered. After an extended 11-pitch battle, Weaver walked Ceddanne Rafaela, who had been down 0-2 in the count. Nick Sogard followed with a hustle double, hitting a ball to shallow center that Aaron Judge's still-recovering throwing arm couldn't contend with, placing runners on second and third. Red Sox manager Alex Cora shrewdly pinch-hit Masataka Yoshida for Rob Refsnyder. Yoshida, seizing the moment in his first career postseason at-bat, ripped a two-run single up the middle, instantly flipping the scoreboard to a 2-1 Red Sox lead.
The Red Sox weren't finished. In the eighth inning, David Bednar, the Yankees' closer since the trade deadline, gave up an RBI double to Alex Bregman, extending Boston's lead to 3-1 and providing crucial insurance. This late-game offensive surge, fueled by strategic pinch-hitting and capitalizing on the Yankees' bullpen vulnerabilities, mirrored Boston's regular-season tendency to break through late. With their bullpen failing its initial postseason test, the New York Yankees now face elimination in Game 2, leaving ace Carlos Rodón with the unenviable task of saving their season.
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Originally published at: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6678179/2025/09/30/yankees-red-sox-game-1-al-wild-card-2025/
