The Boston Red Sox are one win away from ending the New York Yankees' season after securing a 3-1 victory in Game 1 of their Wild Card series at Yankee Stadium. Garrett Crochet's stellar pitching performance and a timely offensive surge propelled Boston to the crucial win. Here’s a breakdown of key moments from the game:
Crochet's Postseason Debut: A Dominant Display
Garrett Crochet's performance validated the Red Sox's decision to acquire him. The left-hander, obtained in a trade that sent multiple prospects to Chicago, pitched like the ace Boston envisioned. During the regular season, Crochet posted an impressive 18-5 record with a 2.59 ERA, leading the league with 255 strikeouts and pitching 205.1 innings.
In his playoff debut, Crochet was exceptional, allowing only one run in 7.2 innings. He threw 117 pitches, striking out 11 Yankees hitters and effectively silencing an offense that had been the highest-scoring in Major League Baseball this season.
The only hiccup in Crochet's outing was a solo home run by Anthony Volpe in the second inning. Volpe connected on a high pitch, sending it just over the right-field wall. Interestingly, that 382-foot homer would have been a home run in nearly every other ballpark in MLB, except for Fenway Park.
After Volpe's home run, Crochet regained his composure and dominated, retiring 17 consecutive batters and racking up nine strikeouts. His strong performance allowed the Red Sox to eventually mount a comeback. Manager Alex Cora relied on Crochet in the eighth inning after Masataka Yoshida gave Boston its first lead.
Crochet's final pitch of the night, a 100.2 mph fastball, tied his fastest of the season, demonstrating his strength and stamina even late in the game as he struck out Austin Wells.
Offense Faces Early Hurdles Against Fried
The Red Sox offense struggled to capitalize on opportunities early in the game against Yankees starter Max Fried. The absence of Roman Anthony from the lineup was a significant blow, and the team's season-long struggles with runners in scoring position continued.
Boston led MLB in at-bats with runners in scoring position during the regular season, racking up 1,484 such at-bats. However, they also led the league in strikeouts with runners on second and/or third, recording 394.
Against Fried, the Red Sox had several opportunities to score but failed to deliver the key hit. They went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position during his 6.1 innings of work, with two strikeouts.
A particularly frustrating moment came in the fourth inning. After Carlos Narvaez walked and Nate Eaton doubled, Jarren Duran worked the count to 3-0. However, Duran struck out on a high sweeper, ending Boston's scoring threat.
Yoshida's Clutch Hit Sparks a Shift
The turning point of the game came in the seventh inning. Yankees manager Aaron Boone turned to his bullpen, which had the highest ERA among playoff teams (4.37).
Ceddane Rafaela drew an 11-pitch walk against reliever Luke Weaver, igniting Boston's rally. Nick Sogard then doubled into right field, advancing Rafaela to third.
With runners in scoring position, Cora called on Masataka Yoshida to pinch-hit. Yoshida delivered immediately, driving Weaver's first pitch into center field for a two-run single, giving Boston a 2-1 lead. Despite struggling at times this season, Yoshida has been clutch with runners in scoring position since September 17, hitting 7-for-11 in those situations.
Chapman Navigates a Tricky Ninth
Despite Crochet's strong outing, the Red Sox needed to extend their lead in the ninth inning, especially with the heart of the Yankees' order due up.
Alex Bregman provided that insurance run with an RBI double into left field, scoring Trevor Story, who had singled and stolen second, to make it 3-1.
Aroldis Chapman, the Red Sox closer, faced a tense situation in the bottom of the ninth. He allowed three consecutive singles to Paul Goldschmidt, Aaron Judge, and Cody Bellinger to start the inning.
However, Chapman managed to escape the jam, recording three straight outs, including two strikeouts, to secure the win for Boston.
Looking Ahead: Bello Takes the Mound
The Red Sox will aim to close out the series and advance to the ALDS. Bryan Bello will start for Boston in Game 2.
"I have been throwing a lot of big games here, but I feel like this one is going to be different," Bello said.
Bello has a strong track record at Yankee Stadium, with a 3-1 record, a 1.44 ERA, and a 0.957 WHIP in five career starts. He has held opponents to a .196 batting average in those games.
"I feel like as soon as you step on the field you feel the pressure from the fans, even when you are in the bullpen and when you go to the mound," Bello said. "For me nothing changes preparation-wise, but I feel like that extra pressure from the fans and from everybody, it gets me going."
Despite a shaky end to the regular season, Bello has been a key part of the Red Sox rotation this year, posting an 11-9 record and a 3.35 ERA.
The Yankees will counter with Carlos Rodon, who has been effective at home this season (18-9, 3.09 ERA) but has struggled against Boston, allowing 11 runs in 15.2 innings.
No comments:
Post a Comment