BRONX, NY — Two consecutive American League Wild Card Series with the Yankees disposing of the Red Sox to advance to the ALDS. Compared to last year where their battle went all three games, the Yankees only needed two this week, sweeping Boston in the best two-of-three series.
They sent the Red Sox home packing for the winter a year ago. After that, a disappointing end to their postseason as the Blue Jays took care of business, were the better team and advanced to the ALCS where Toronto handled the Mariners in seven games.
The Dodgers then got their World Series two-peat win over those resilient Jays.
The Blue Jays were the team that ended up celebrating at Yankee Stadium last season after the ALDS, this year it will be either the Rays or Yankees – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
But this season, the Yankees wanted to run it back and go steps further.
With 49,004 rabid fans packing their house in the Bronx Wednesday night, the Yankees had the momentum, with pitching being their strength and the offense clicking on all cylinders for a 9-2 final.
As the Yankees began their celebration late Wednesday night, Payton Toole and a few other Red Sox players and coaches stayed in the dugout for a couple minutes after the final out of Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series in the Bronx – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
Bring on Tampa Bay, the AL East division winner in a best of five ALDS that begins this Saturday. Had the Yankees handled the Rays earlier this season, they would commence the ALDS in the Bronx, but they lost the season series, 7-6, and are an AL Wild Card team with momentum as Tampa Bay got the first round bye, No. 1 overall seed in the AL, and watched from their homes while keeping busy with fundamentals at Tropicana Field.
The Yankees celebrated again, this time in their clubhouse, marking the second time in two weeks. The first raucous celebration was in their clubhouse but as visitors in Minnesota, which is when the Yankees clinched a playoff spot on the road in their second to last series of the season vs. the Twins. The Yankees wanted to run it back and need 11 more wins to accomplish a long awaited World Series championship.
Aaron Boone and the Yankees’ next stop will be Tampa Bay with an ALDS meeting with the Rays that starts this Saturday – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
A championship that has allured them since 2009, too long for a franchise that thrives on being a part of yearly postseason baseball. Too long of a drought for their fans, the city of New York, players who celebrated this latest achievement and to those who have been a part of this in the past.
And too long for their captain Aaron Judge who sat out this brief AL Wild Card series, still recovering but not ready from a calf strain. His status remained uncertain for the ALDS late Wednesday at Yankee Stadium as the team continued to celebrate and prepare for their journey to Tampa Bay.
Aaron Judge’s status for the American League Division Series vs. Tampa Bay remains a question and one many will be talking about in baseball circles until the Yankees announce the team’s ALDS roster – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
But for manager Aaron Boone, this was the second step. Running it back was the plan and his Yankees have responded.
Cam Schlittler, the perennial AL Cy Young Award favorite, dominated in Game 1 Tuesday evening while Max Fried with three hits over six innings of one-run ball, Luis García Jr. on a fourth inning home run, and Cody Bellinger on a three-run shot in the seventh, did the rest Wednesday.
By smacking a solo home run into the right field seats of Yankee Stadium, Luis García Jr. got the Bronx crowd of over 49,000 jumping in the fourth inning of Wednesday night’s 9-2 win against the Red Sox – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
And the Yankees, cementing their win with a six-run sixth inning, 10 came to the plate. The Red Sox became the baseball story of 2026, turned it around with a historic 15-game winning streak and scored two runs in their two games. They did not pitch well to this Yankees lineup that certainly now has the momentum against the Rays.
“Regardless of all the special things that happened this summer, and there were quite a few, the goal is to win the World Series and that ended for us tonight,” said Red Sox manager Chad Tracy.
After a historic stretch of baseball this summer, Boston’s season came to an end Wednesday night in the Bronx for a second consecutive year – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
The Red Sox were packing their bags and headed to Boston, then traveling to their homes, a long winter wondering what went wrong. They lost again to their biggest rival in the postseason and said it was a lousy feeling to duplicate that in the Bronx.
Sonny Gray took the loss (4.2 innings, six hits, two runs allowed and five strikeouts) and will contemplate his future with a one-year contract as Tracy went to the ‘pen despite his starter throwing just 70 pitches.
Not many of the Red Sox wanted to talk. One who did was Willson Contreras who tried to ignite a spark by hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning and reaching base four times.
Willson Contreras attempted to give the Red Sox a spark on a sixth inning solo home run but nothing much would come after with the game out of reach – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
To the Red Sox, the futility will last. The Yankees though are continuing to run it back.
“I’m just really pleased with how we played,” said Boone. “We’re going to enjoy that. And excited to get our shot at a really good Tampa club.”
The Yankees have depth, overall are healthy and getting production up-and-down the lineup with Ben Rice leading the way (six RBI and a multi-home run Game 1 including a grand slam). Also Spencer Jones and catcher Austin Wells since September with a hitting revival.
Well, Well, Wells… pic.twitter.com/jPDrmJFJAT
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 1, 2026
Depth with Jazz Chisholm Jr., Anthony Volpe, rookie George Lombard Jr, in the infield, enough to keep the versatile José Caballero on the bench, a base stealer and run producer in late innings.
And the rotation alignment for the ALDS because of the early exit of the Red Sox fits perfectly for Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón, who each did not pitch or start in this series. Schlittler will also be getting a turn.
The bullpen core that led the league in ERA is rested, thanks to Schlittler and Fried.
Max Fried allowed just three hits and one walk over six shutout innings with six strikeouts vs. the Red Sox in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
“We have the momentum now, run it back,” Caballero said to Latino Sports as the Yankees proceeded on with their celebration.
The Yankees are getting close to what they asked for when they assembled in mid February at their Steinbrenner Field complex.
And that’s running it back with a successful ending.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X:@Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
Follow us on Social Media for updates and exclusive content
Instagram: @latinosportsoficial
Twitter: @latinosports
TikTok: @latino.sports
Facebook: Latino Sports
