Thursday night at Yankee Stadium is why we watch sports.
It’s Yankees. It’s Red Sox. Winner advances to the ALDS. Loser goes home.
This is what it’s all about, people!
Boston (89-73) takes on New York (94-68) in game three of their AL Wild Card series in the Bronx, with the winner earning the right to play Toronto (94-68) in the second round.
After going with the same lineup for games one and two of the series, manager Alex Cora switched it up for the elimination game.
Thursday’s lineup includes Nathaniel Lowe at first base, who is no stranger to the big stage.
The 30-year-old was a member of the 2023 Texas Rangers, who finished the job and won their first World Series title in franchise history.
Even with that experience under his belt, Lowe wasn’t hiding his nerves when speaking with the media at the podium ahead of game three.
“I think every game is exciting, every pitch is going to be exciting, especially in an elimination game,” said Lowe. “I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, you know? Like, I didn't sleep great last night.
“I think it's more excitement than nerves, though. Because everybody knows what's at stake today. I mean, I can hear it shaking in my voice a little bit talking to you guys. Like, it's just how it goes. But it's an exciting game. It's a chance to perform. It's a chance to do something great for a team and a fan base. So any bit of doubt or fear, you just need to erase that and go play.”
Lowe has been an absolute revelation for Boston since joining the team post-trade deadline.
After Lowe was designated for assignment by Washington in August and went unclaimed on waivers, Boston added the veteran hitter to a first-base mix that had been inconsistent since Triston Casas' season-ending knee injury in May.
And like finding a $20 bill in your pants pocket you didn’t know was there, Lowe’s contributions at the dish have been a much needed pleasant surprise.
In 119 regular season plate appearances in a Red Sox uniform, Lowe is batting .280 with an on base percentage of .370 and a slugging percentage of .420.
For a lineup in need of a spark after two straight games of quiet bats, maybe it’s a full game of Lowe at first that can help propel this team into the second round.
First pitch is set for 8:08 p.m. ET.
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