The New York Yankees secured a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series, as Jazz Chisholm Jr. sprinted home from first base on Austin Wells’ decisive single in the eighth inning. Chisholm, initially unhappy about being left out of the starting lineup, also contributed with a crucial defensive play at second base. This win forces a Game 3, which will take place in the Bronx on Thursday.
In a thrilling continuation of the historic rivalry between the two teams, the victor will advance to face the AL East champions, the Toronto Blue Jays, in a best-of-five Division Series starting Saturday. Ben Rice and Aaron Judge provided offensive support for the Yankees with a two-run homer and an RBI single, respectively. The Yankees’ bullpen stepped up, delivering three scoreless innings after starter Carlos Rodon faced early trouble in the seventh inning.
On the other side, Trevor Story was the standout performer for the Red Sox, single-handedly accounting for all three runs with a home run. Despite their efforts, the Red Sox fell short in this tightly contested matchup.
In another game, the Cleveland Guardians defeated the Detroit Tigers 6-1, leveling the AL Wild Card Series. Brayan Rocchio and Bo Naylor’s homers in the eighth inning powered the Guardians to victory, setting up a decisive third game. The winner of this series will go on to face the Seattle Mariners in the Division Series.
Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres shut out the Chicago Cubs 3-0 in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series. Manny Machado’s two-run homer and stellar pitching from Mason Miller propelled the Padres to victory, forcing a third and final game at Wrigley Field. The Cubs, making their first playoff appearance in five years, will look to bounce back in the decider.
Lastly, the Los Angeles Dodgers secured an 8-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds, advancing to the National League Division Series. Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s dominant pitching performance, combined with a four-run sixth inning by the Dodgers, proved to be the difference. The Dodgers will now face the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS, setting the stage for an exciting postseason clash.
