Overview

• Rookie Cam Schlittler overpowered Boston with eight scoreless innings and 12 strikeouts without a walk, then David Bednar closed the ninth for a 4-0 win.
• New York’s decisive offense arrived in a single multi-run frame aided by Red Sox defensive lapses, including a misplayed pop-up and a Nathaniel Lowe error.
• The Yankees became the first team in MLB’s best-of-three Wild Card era to lose the opener and still advance since the format expanded in 2022.
• Key Game 2 choices set the stage as Carlos Rodón convinced Aaron Boone to leave him in for a pivotal double play and the bullpen rebounded behind Fernando Cruz and Devin Williams.
• The Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays begins Saturday in the best-of-five format.