Yanks march on to ALDS after etching new lore in storied rivalry
This browser does not support the video element.
NEW YORK -- Step one is complete. To fulfill their mission of defending their pennant in a return to the World Series, the Yankees first needed to dispatch their most historic rivals. Now they have, securing a 4-0 victory over the Red Sox in Thursday’s Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium.
Boston’s season is over, while the Yankees popped bottles and celebrated by spraying beer in their home clubhouse -- but not for long. They have miles to cover, set to advance and face the division rival Blue Jays in the best-of-five AL Division Series, which begins Saturday at Rogers Centre.
“We were a confident group, going into this Red Sox series,” said Yankees captain Aaron Judge. “They had our number all regular season, but we knew what we needed to do. This group knew what was ahead of us.”
On the 47th anniversary of Bucky Dent’s iconic division-clinching home run, Cam Schlittler earned a place in rivalry lore, outpitching Connelly Early in a Gen Z matchup of rookies to keep New York’s October dreams in motion.
“It felt like as pressure-packed a game as I have ever been in,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. “A great opponent, a storied opponent. The boys answered the bell and played great baseball these couple of days.”
This browser does not support the video element.
Fueled in part by online barbs from Red Sox Nation, the flame-throwing Schlittler made Boston’s bats pay the price, breaking triple digits with his fastball 11 times, including six in the first inning.
The result was a 12-strikeout performance – the most by a Yankees rookie in a postseason game, surpassing Dave Righetti, who fanned 10 Brewers in Game 2 of the 1981 ALDS.
“I woke up and I was locked in,” Schlittler said. “I knew exactly what I needed to do and go out there, especially against my hometown team. As I told Andy [Pettitte] yesterday, I wasn’t going to let them beat me.”
This browser does not support the video element.
The Yankees took advantage of Boston’s defensive miscues in the fourth. Cody Bellinger opened the inning with a hustle double on a routine fly that clanked off center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela's glove.
That sparked a sequence in which six of seven Yankees reached base against Early, including run-scoring singles from Amed Rosario and Anthony Volpe. Austin Wells chopped a grounder that tipped first baseman Nathaniel Lowe’s glove, allowing two more runs to score.
“We didn’t play defense,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “They didn’t hit the ball hard, but they found holes and it happened fast.”
This browser does not support the video element.
Schlittler, the 24-year-old from Walpole, Mass., made it hold up in a breezy 107-pitch effort, throwing 75 of 107 pitches for strikes. The right-hander didn’t make his Major League debut until early July, but he appeared built for the October stage, standing tall over eight scoreless frames.
“He’s been our secret weapon ever since he got called up,” said Judge, though after that performance on a national stage, the word is likely out.
This browser does not support the video element.
Yankees third baseman Ryan McMahon made the defensive play of the night in the eighth inning, vaulting over a railing into the visiting dugout after securing Jarren Duran’s foul pop-up.
McMahon said he was “sure I hit everything in that dugout,” but said he expected to be ready for Saturday’s ALDS opener.
“When the games really matter like this, it means a lot more,” McMahon said.
This browser does not support the video element.
History loomed large in the series, especially after the Yankees dropped Game 1. They became just the third team to win the Wild Card Series after losing Game 1, joining the 2020 A's (vs. the White Sox) and the 2020 Padres (vs. the Cardinals).
“Man, I’m just glad we were able to extend the season,” Bellinger said. “What a fun group to be a part of. I love each and every one of these guys. This was just a fun series to be a part of.”
Added Ben Rice: “It just shows what we’ve got in this room. We’ve got a resilient bunch of guys, and we’re proud of it.”
This marked the first time since Boone’s pennant-winning homer in the 2003 ALCS that the Yankees have ended a Boston season, snapping a run of three consecutive playoff meetings won by the Red Sox over New York – 2004 ALCS, 2018 ALDS and the 2021 Wild Card Game.
“That’s a good one,” Judge said. “They’ve had our number in the regular season and in the last couple of postseasons, from ’21 to ’18. But I like this one.”