NEW YORK — In front of a sell‑out crowd of 48,437 at Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees opened the AL Wild Card Series with a decisive 9‑0 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Pitcher Cam Schlittler threw a masterful 6 1/3‑inning performance, while first‑base designated hitter Ben Rice supplied a late grand slam and six RBIs.
Schlittler’s dominant outing
Schlittler, a 25‑year‑old right‑hander and leading Cy Young candidate, entered the game with a league‑best 1.95 ERA. He struck out ten batters, walked one, and allowed only two hits on 117 pitches – the most he has ever thrown in a single start and the highest pitch count for a Yankees postseason starter since Hall of Famer CC Sabathia’s 121‑pitch effort in the 2012 AL Division Series.
He retired the first 13 batters he faced, then issued a two‑out walk in the fifth inning. After a single in the seventh, Schlittler exited to a standing ovation, leaving the Yankees with a 2‑0 lead. Reliever Paul Blackburn promptly induced a ground‑out double play to preserve the advantage.
Rice’s power surge
With star slugger Aaron Judge sidelined by a calf injury, the Yankees relied on Ben Rice to provide the offensive punch. Rice went 4‑for‑5, homering twice, doubling once, and driving in six runs, including a dramatic grand slam that capped the scoring. Austin Wells added two RBIs, and rookie outfielder George Lombard Jr., making his postseason debut, collected three hits.
Both Rice and Schlittler grew up as Red Sox fans in Massachusetts and were drafted by the Yankees out of the Boston area, adding a personal narrative to the on‑field rivalry.
Looking ahead
The Yankees will host Game 2 on Wednesday night. A win will send New York to a best‑of‑five Division Series against the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox will turn to right‑hander Sonny Gray, who made his first postseason start since 2023, hoping to spark a comeback.
Gray, who tied for the major‑league lead in wins this season, reflected on his time in the Bronx: “Playing here made me a stronger person, a better husband, and ultimately a better pitcher.” He previously carried a no‑hitter into the eighth inning against the Yankees in June.
Team context
New York’s bullpen will also feature left‑hander Max Fried, a three‑time All‑Star who was limited to 20 starts this season due to a bruised left elbow. Fried threw six scoreless innings against Boston in the Wild Card opener last year.
The victory marks the Yankees’ first postseason win without Aaron Judge since the 2022 season and underscores the depth of the roster, a point of pride for fans who value strong family‑oriented teams and community spirit.
As the series continues, New York supporters can look forward to more high‑quality baseball and the chance to see their team advance toward a potential World Series run.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
