NEW YORK — The New York Yankees are staring at elimination after a 3-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series. The focus quickly shifted from the scoreboard to manager Aaron Boone’s decision in the seventh inning. His choice to pull ace Max Fried with a one-run lead set off immediate controversy.
Fried had thrown 102 pitches across 6 1/3 scoreless innings when Boone made the move. Moments later, Boston cashed in against reliever Luke Weaver, scoring twice and flipping the game. The Yankees now sit one loss away from ending their season.
Fried reveals he had more in the tank
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Fried didn’t hide his feelings after the game. The left-hander wanted to stay in. His postgame words revealed a pitcher who believed he was still in control.
“I want to pitch as long as I possibly can,” Fried said softly. “I definitely felt good. Whatever the team needed.”
The veteran had just beaten Jarren Duran in a footrace to first base for the first out of the seventh. His body language showed confidence.
“I’m going to stay in until I get the ball taken from me,” Fried said. “I definitely felt good at the end, coming out feeling good.”
Those comments hit hard in a clubhouse already shaken by how fast the night turned. Behind Fried, the Yankees had dictated the game. Then, in minutes, it all slipped away.
The fateful conversation that added fuel to fire
The key moment came after the sixth inning. Fried had just induced a double play to escape a jam. He sat at 99 pitches.
“I came in the dugout and Boonie looked at me and said, ‘How you feeling?’ I said good,” Fried recalled. “He said, ‘You got enough for Duran?’ And I said yeah, whatever you need.”
The plan seemed clear. Fried would face Duran, then give way to the bullpen. Boone believed his ace had pushed hard enough through several stressful innings.
“I felt like his command was not as good those final few,” Boone explained. “He’s just making so many big pitches, and his stuff was good. He gave us what we needed and felt really good about the outing he put forth, but I felt pretty convicted.”
The numbers suggested otherwise. Fried had thrown 63 of his 102 pitches for strikes. He allowed just four hits. Boston had not scored.
Boone turned to Weaver, who had struggled late in the season after returning from a hamstring injury. His ERA jumped to 5.31 over his final 40 games. The trend continued Tuesday night as Weaver gave up two runs without recording an out.
Closer David Bednar gave up another run in the ninth when Alex Bregman doubled home insurance. The Yankees’ bullpen had unraveled at the worst possible time.
Michael Kay questions Boone’s explanation
YES Network announcer Michael Kay criticized Boone’s approach. On the postgame show, Kay admitted he initially supported the move. But Boone’s explanation left him puzzled.
“When I walked into the studio, I was all for the decision,” Kay said. “You don’t put your guy to where he can’t go, and he hasn’t gone that far all year. But when you hear Aaron Boone say, you know, after he came in in the sixth inning, just give me one more batter. Well, why?”
Kay noted the situation. The eighth and ninth hitters were due up after Duran. This was the pitcher the Yankees trusted with an eight-year deal.
“To me, that sounds like a blueprint move. That’s not the time for Weaver,” Kay said. “That’s the time to keep in Fried. You keep Fried in until Fried can’t go any longer.”
Tale of two managers shows stark contrast
The contrast between Boone and Red Sox manager Alex Cora was sharp. While Boone pulled his ace, Cora leaned heavily on his. Garrett Crochet threw a season-high 117 pitches, striking out 11 and pitching into the eighth inning.
Crochet entered the eighth with 100 pitches. He faced two more batters, retired them both, and then handed the ball to Chapman.
“I wanted to honor that decision,” Crochet said. “I felt like he’s put a lot of faith in me this year, and I haven’t let him down yet. So, I was going to be damn sure this wasn’t the first time.”
The trust paid off. Boston now leads the series 1-0.
Lineup decisions add to Boone’s questionable night
AP Photo/Colin Hubbard
Boone’s choices extended beyond the mound. Before the game, he sat Ben Rice, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Ryan McMahon. Instead, Paul Goldschmidt, Amed Rosario, and José Caballero started.
Goldschmidt delivered a leadoff single in the first inning. After that, the trio went 0-for-7 against Crochet. Rosario, who entered with a 6-for-9 career line against Crochet, grounded out three times.
Trent Grisham also got the start in a left-on-left matchup. He finished 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
The defensive decisions did help. Rosario turned an unassisted double play in the sixth. Caballero made a charging stop on Bregman in the fifth, stranding two runners.
Still, the offense never answered. Anthony Volpe’s second-inning home run was the only run. Crochet retired 17 straight Yankees after that. A crowd of 48,591 watched as the bats went silent in a must-win atmosphere.
Boone said Rice, Chisholm, and McMahon will likely return to the lineup in Game 2. Boston’s starter is Brayan Bello, who owns a 1.44 ERA in five career starts at Yankee Stadium.
The ifs and buts
Fried had navigated constant pressure from the third through the sixth innings. Each time, he escaped with big pitches.
His 102 pitches were well within reach. He had thrown more than 107 pitches in multiple games late in the season. This was October, and the stakes were higher.
“I’ve been plenty clear with him throughout the year of whatever they need me to do, I’m willing,” Fried said about his communication with Boone.
The Red Sox have dominated the Yankees this season. Tuesday’s loss dropped New York to 4-10 against their rival. Once again, Boston found a way to expose their weakness.
