The New York Yankees’ defense stepped up big time in Game 2 of their AL wild-card series against the Boston Red Sox, securing a thrilling 4-3 victory and forcing a decisive Game 3. After struggling with errors during their summer slump, the Yankees infield delivered clutch plays behind starter Carlos Rodón and a trio of relievers in Yankee Stadium.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. stole the show on both sides of the ball. He scored the go-ahead run in the eighth on Austin Wells’ single, but his glove work kept the Red Sox in check. In the seventh, with two runners on and the score tied at 3-3, Chisholm dove to knock down Masataka Yoshida’s infield hit. He couldn’t get the out at first, but that stop likely prevented a run.
Rodón owned the only Yankees error of the night—a bounced throw on a bunt in the third that let Boston tie the game at 2-2. Things could have unraveled, but Chisholm saved the day again. He ranged to his left for Alex Bregman’s grounder, spun, and fired to second baseman Anthony Volpe, who pivoted for an inning-ending double play. Yankees manager Aaron Boone called it “special.”
The infield turned three double plays total. Third baseman Ryan McMahon kicked off one to close the sixth, and closer Devin Williams started another in the eighth with Volpe’s help. “Defensively, we had some great turns,” Rodón said after the win.
Aaron Judge continues to heat up in the MLB playoffs. He’s 4-for-8 through two games, including an RBI single in the fifth that Jarren Duran couldn’t snag on a diving try in left field. Judge didn’t get his fourth hit last postseason until Game 3 of the ALCS, so this strong start bodes well for the Yankees.
Boone admitted he second-guessed one move from Game 1: pulling Amed Rosario in the eighth for Chisholm’s superior range at second base. Rosario started against lefties for his bat, but his spot came up in the ninth with bases loaded against Aroldis Chapman. Chisholm flied out, ending the threat. “That’s a very fair question,” Boone said. “The range and knowing more lefties were coming up—it was a tough call.”
Trent Grisham rebounded nicely too. After going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in Game 1, he smacked a double, drew a walk, stole a base, and scored a run in Game 2. With the series now even, all eyes turn to Game 3 as the Yankees fight to extend their playoff run.
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