Yankees Advance to ALDS After 9-2 Victory Completes Sweep of Red Sox

Max Fried allowed just three hits over six innings as the New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-2 to secure a two-game AL Wild Card Series sweep.

The New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-2 on Wednesday night at New York to complete a two-game sweep of the AL Wild Card Series. New York outscored Boston 18-2 across the two contests, holding the Red Sox to a .117 batting average (7-for-60) with 18 strikeouts. Max Fried earned the win, striking out six and allowing one run on three hits over six innings of work. The Yankees now advance to face the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Division Series starting Saturday.

Cody Bellinger led the offense with four RBIs, highlighted by a three-run home run in a six-run sixth inning. Luis Garcia Jr. also homered and finished with three hits in his first postseason start. The decisive sixth inning began when Spencer Jones reached first base on a wild pitch despite striking out, a play overturned by video review. Following the review, George Lombard Jr. recorded an RBI single, Austin Wells hit a sacrifice fly, and Ryan McMahon added an RBI groundout before Bellinger’s home run off Garrett Whitlock extended the lead to 8-1.

Sonny Gray started for Boston, while Erik Miller surrendered an RBI single to Bellinger in the fifth. Willson Contreras ended a 26-inning postseason scoreless streak for the Red Sox with a solo home run, and Nick Sogard added a solo shot in the seventh off Will Warren. The Yankees, who started eight left-handed hitters, previously won the series opener 9-0 behind Cam Schlittler. Gerrit Cole is expected to start Game 1 of the ALDS against the Rays.