NEW YORK – This is only the first checkpoint of a postseason journey the Yankees hope will stretch deep into October. But if they had to choose an opponent to send home first, few would be more satisfying than the Red Sox.
For the second consecutive year, that’s exactly what they did. Their celebration reflected that, with corks popped and bubbly spraying in every direction.
Luis García Jr. hit an early homer and Cody Bellinger delivered a three-run dagger late as the Yankees trounced the Red Sox, 9-2, on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium, sweeping the two-game American League Wild Card Series.
“Being able to celebrate with your teammates after a playoff series win, it doesn’t get old,” said left-hander Max Fried. “This is what we start practicing in February for. This is where we want to be. So it’s just about playing our game, having fun, and hopefully we’ve got a couple more of these we can do.”
The victory vaults the Yankees into the AL Division Series against the Rays, with Game 1 scheduled for Saturday at Tropicana Field. The Yankees plan to start either Gerrit Cole or Carlos Rodón, pitching coach Matt Blake said.
“I think if we keep pitching the way we’re pitching, we can be able to dominate the World Series,” said Cam Schlittler, the winning pitcher in Game 1.
Following Schlittler’s lead, Fried permitted three hits over six innings of one-run ball, then leaned on the bats to do the rest against the Yankees’ most historic rival. This had been expected to be a low-scoring series, but New York made it lopsided.
“As I said all year, but even going into this series, that was a scary team to us – especially as well as they pitch,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I’m just really pleased with how we played. We’re going to enjoy that, and excited to get our shot at a really good Tampa [Bay] club.”
Imported to supply power with captain Aaron Judge on the injured list, García provided a big fourth-inning swing that represented an overwhelmingly left-handed lineup’s first dent against one-time Yankee Sonny Gray, who was touched for a pair of runs before exiting to a loud chorus of boos in the fifth.
Born in New York and counting himself as a Yankees fan before moving to the Dominican Republic in early childhood, García beamed as he crossed home plate, pointing into the crowd. He hit 30 home runs during the regular season, seven after being acquired from the Nationals in August.
“I only have one word – unbelievable,” García said. “You feel the crowd, you feel the fans. You feel everything right now. This experience for me, it’s unbelievable.”
Bellinger caught the ceremonial first pitch from his father, Clay, then delivered a run-scoring single to greet left-hander Erik Miller in the fifth – the second time in as many nights Miller surrendered a run to the first batter he faced, having allowed Ben Rice’s first of two homers in Game 1.
The Yankees broke it open with a six-run sixth, sending 10 batters to the plate. Rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr. collected his first postseason RBI, setting up Austin Wells and Ryan McMahon to knock in runs.
“This shows what we can do,” Lombard said. “We’re obviously a great clubhouse, a great group of guys. When everything’s going our way, when we’ve got all our guys competing like we are now, I think we can do a lot of great things.”
Bellinger capped the rally, slugging a Garrett Whitlock changeup into the seats. This time, Boston intentionally walked Rice to face Bellinger. It didn’t work.
“I was very surprised they were willing to face Cody Bellinger, a guy who absolutely thrives with runners in scoring position and has done it his whole career,” Rice said. “Interesting decision.”
Said Bellinger: “That was a cool moment. I feel like I was able to enjoy that one. Home game in Yankee Stadium, it’s a really fun atmosphere. It’s fun to play, and hopefully we get many, many more this month.”
Willson Contreras and Nick Sogard homered for the Red Sox, who went 26 innings without scoring a postseason run before Contreras’ sixth-inning shot off Fried – a streak that dated back to Game 2 of last year’s AL Wild Card Series in the Bronx.
Given that drought, the Yanks’ firepower was too much to overcome.
“You’re thinking we're going to play closer games,” Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said. “They swung the bats extremely well. You've got to give them credit. It was frustrating.”
Now the Yankees turn their attention to the Rays, who claimed the division by 4 1/2 games during the regular season and won seven of 13 meetings with New York this year.
But October can change everything, and right now, the Yankees are confident they will.
“I know we didn’t win the division,” said Judge, who is hoping to be activated for the next round. “We weren’t the No. 1 seed, got put in the Wild Card. But we’re not trying to make a statement. We’re trying to play our game and take care of business.”