Boston vs Yankees: Wild AL Wild-Card Series Goes to Winner-Take-All — Game 1 Recap, Game 2 Drama & What to Expect in Game 3

Boston vs Yankees delivered playoff drama — Crochet’s Game 1 gem, Yankees’ Game 2 comeback on Austin Wells’ clutch hit, and a winner-take-all Game 3 ahead. Read the full recap, player stats (Brayan Bello, Garrett Whitlock, Austin Wells), tactical breakdown, where to watch, and what each team must do to advance. (Keywords: Boston vs Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Yankees Score, New York Yankees, Redsox, Brayan Bello, Garrett Whitlock, Austin Wells, Alex Cora, Where to watch New York Yankees vs Red Sox.)

Quick hook — the short version

The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees split the first two games of their AL Wild-Card Series — Boston won Game 1 behind Garrett Crochet’s dominant outing, and New York staved off elimination in Game 2 on an Austin Wells game-winning RBI — setting up a winner-take-all Game 3 that will decide who advances to the AL Division Series.

Why this series matters (background & context)

Few rivalries in sports match Red Sox vs Yankees for sheer history and intensity. Entering October 2025, both clubs carried momentum and storylines: Boston’s rotation upgrades and a confident Alex Cora-led clubhouse, and New York’s power lineup plus the emergence of timely role players. Because the current Wild-Card round is a short best-of-three, every pitch and managerial choice is amplified — meaning a single swing or bullpen decision can swing a season. This series is a compact microcosm of October baseball: everything matters, immediately.

Game 1 — Crochet & Yoshida power Boston to a 3–1 win

Boston opened the series with a statement. Garrett Crochet turned in a brilliant starting performance — a high-velocity, high-stuff outing that kept the Yankees off balance for most of his start. Crochet’s command and ability to miss barrels propelled the Red Sox to a 3–1 Game 1 victory at Yankee Stadium; the lineup got a clutch contribution from Masataka Yoshida in a late inning, and Aroldis Chapman (or Boston’s high-leverage relievers) closed the door. That win gave Boston the first swing in the short series and handed New York an immediate must-win in Game 2.

Key Game 1 player notes

• Garrett Crochet: Ace-caliber outing — multiple strikeouts, injected life into Boston’s rotation plans.
• Masataka Yoshida: Delivered the clutch two-run single that provided decisive offense in the late innings.
• Alex Cora: Managed his bullpen and lineup to balance aggression with calculated risk — Cora’s postseason instincts were in full view.

Game 2 — Yankees avoid elimination, win 4–3 on Austin Wells’ clutch RBI

Game 2 was playoff theater. After Boston’s Trevor Story supplied all three Red Sox runs (a two-run single and a solo homer), New York chipped away and ultimately tied the game. With two outs in the eighth and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aboard, Austin Wells ripped a two-out RBI single that scored the go-ahead run and sent the series to a decisive Game 3. David Bednar (and the Yankees’ late relief corps) slammed the door in the ninth. The game was a tension-packed example of how small margins and one clutch hit can extend a team’s season.

Key Game 2 player notes

• Austin Wells: Came through in the biggest moment with a clutch plate appearance that erased doubts and kept the Yankees alive.
• Brayan Bello: Boston turned to him in a starting role at key moments this postseason; Game 2 saw Bello exit earlier than the team hoped after giving up early runs, forcing Alex Cora to rely on his bullpen.
• Garrett Whitlock: Worked in critical relief innings for Boston later in the game but yielded the walk that set up Wells’ opportunity. Whitlock’s outing and the bullpen usage will be a major conversation point for Boston’s staff planning.

[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]

The numbers that mattered (player stats & game box highlights)

(Selected, load-bearing stats from the two games — see official box scores for full details.)

Game 1 (Boston 3, New York 1)

• Crochet: dominant start, double-digit strikeouts and limited baserunners.
• Boston offense: 3 runs, 8 hits — timely hitting with small ball and clutch at-bats.

Game 2 (New York 4, Boston 3)

• Wells: game-winning RBI single in the 8th.
• Trevor Story: all Boston RBIs (2-run single + solo homer) — one player carrying the offensive load.
• Brayan Bello: early hook after struggles; bullpen usage: Boston used multiple arms in an attempt to bridge to the late innings.

For full box scores and play-by-play, official MLB game pages and ESPN box scores are the canonical references.

The Jungle was roaring. #RepBX | @yankeestadium pic.twitter.com/CZzypOJQev

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 2, 2025

Tactical read: What Boston did well, and where New York countered

Boston’s Game 1 blueprint: attack with power pitching and manufacturing offense. Crochet’s high-spin, high-velocity breaks helped freeze Yankee bats and limit free passes. Manager Alex Cora’s lineup construction and late-inning management paid off in Game 1.

New York’s Game 2 response: be opportunistic, exploit bullpen seams, and let timely hitting (a la Wells) determine the outcome. The Yankees’ ability to convert a walk into a run with runners in motion and aggressive baserunning (Jazz Chisholm’s dash home) showcased the kind of small-ball manufacturing that complements their usual power.

Managerial chess

• Alex Cora (Red Sox): Aggressive bullpen usage throughout Game 2 as starters (Bello) couldn’t get deep enough — Cora’s willingness to use multiple relievers is a double-edged sword in a short series: it can buy outs but can also leave fewer options for a potential Game 3.
• Aaron Boone (Yankees): Stuck with players he trusts in high-leverage situations — the decision to play Wells and rely on Bednar closed out the game successfully. Strategic small moves (e.g., sending Chisholm on contact) paid dividends.

Brayan Bello & Garrett Whitlock: the Boston pitching picture

Brayan Bello — Boston’s young starter has been given key postseason opportunities and produced strong regular-season metrics (ERA ~3.35, double-digit wins). The Red Sox leaned on Bello for Game 2 to try to clinch the series, but an early exit forced Cora to lean heavily on the pen — spotlighting Bello’s role as both potential long reliever and starter in high stakes.

Garrett Whitlock — a trusted bullpen arm, Whitlock entered in high-leverage spots across the series; while his track record is solid, the walk he issued in Game 2 set the stage for the Yankees’ go-ahead opportunity. Boston’s bullpen depth — and Whitlock’s usage — will be critical in a quick turnaround heading into Game 3.