Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium will be a night Red Sox (89-73) fans will remember for a long time, as Garrett Crochet (18-5, 2.59 ERA) pitched the game of his life in a 3-1 victory over New York (94-68) to open Boston’s three-game Wild Card series with their biggest rival with a bang.
Unlikely heroes at the dish. That dramatic half inning with Aroldis Chapman (1.17 ERA) on the mound. An atrocious decision by Aaron Boone. The game truly had it all.
Boston is now one game away from advancing to the ALDS, where they would face AL East champion Toronto (94-68) in game one of that series on Saturday.
Things are moving quickly. What’s happened in the past doesn’t really matter right now. This team is playing some of the best baseball they’ve played all season at exactly the right time, and they’re doing so with massive pieces missing up and down the roster.
It’s almost easy to forget about the seismic trade of Rafael Devers from Father’s Day - a trade that, at the time, felt like a move that was going to sink yet another season for a franchise that has missed the playoffs every year since 2021.
It turns out trading their best hitter was exactly what the doctor ordered for their clubhouse, and now here we are, 12 wins away from a fifth World Series title this century.
Ahead of Wednesday’s game two, shortstop Trevor Story was asked to reflect on his message to the clubhouse in the wake of the Devers deal, as manager Alex Cora spoke glowingly about Story’s leadership in the moment a few weeks ago.
Story’s message then resonates now.
“What we have in this room is enough,” Story recalls saying back in June. “It’s tough to see that in the moment after you trade a guy like that, but the belief is in the people in this room. I think guys need to hear that, and need to hear it from a player.
“And I think obviously it took some time for us to get our footing back underneath us after that, but we played well and I think we showed the type of team that we are. And obviously good enough to be in the postseason, and we like where we’re at right now.”
Boston will look to close out New York tonight with Brayan Bello (11-9, 3.35 ERA) on the mound. The Yankees will throw Carlos Rondon (18-9, 3.09 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:08 p.m. ET.
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