Fried Delivers but Gets Pulled
The New York Yankees opened the American League Wild Card Series with a disappointing 3-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox, and much of the conversation afterward focused on manager Aaron Boone’s decisions. Starting pitcher Max Fried gave the Yankees exactly what they needed, holding Boston scoreless through 6⅓ innings. He scattered four hits, worked out of pressure in the middle innings, and struck out key batters. Fried reached 102 pitches but still looked strong, even saying later that he felt ready to continue until the ball was taken out of his hand. Despite the solid outing, Boone stuck with his pregame plan to remove him after the seventh inning began, a call that quickly unraveled.
Weaver Struggles in Relief
Boone turned to reliever Luke Weaver, who has not been the same since returning from a hamstring injury earlier this season. Weaver’s outing could not have gone worse. He walked Ceddanne Rafaela after an exhausting 11-pitch battle, surrendered a double to Nick Sogard, and then gave up a pinch-hit single to Masataka Yoshida that drove in two runs. In the span of just a few hitters, the Yankees’ 1-0 lead vanished. Weaver did not record an out before exiting with the deficit, leaving the Yankees and their fans frustrated that Fried had been pulled so soon. The bullpen issues did not stop there, as David Bednar allowed consecutive hits in the ninth that gave Boston a valuable insurance run.
Boston’s Pitching Shines
While the Yankees stumbled with their bullpen, Boston relied on dominant pitching to control the game. Starter Garrett Crochet allowed an early home run to Anthony Volpe but then locked in, retiring 17 consecutive Yankees hitters. The young left-hander worked deep into the game before handing the ball to Aroldis Chapman, who recorded the final four outs. The Yankees had one last chance in the ninth when they loaded the bases with no outs, but Chapman slammed the door against his former team, preserving the Red Sox victory. The outing reinforced a troubling pattern for New York: an inability to capitalize on late scoring opportunities and an overreliance on a bullpen that ranked near the bottom of the league during the regular season.
Boone Faces Renewed Criticism
Boone’s postgame comments suggested he believed Fried had already given the Yankees enough and was starting to lose command late in his outing. He said the decision was made with conviction and that he liked the matchup for Weaver at the bottom of the order. Fried, however, expressed that he felt strong enough to keep pitching and would have stayed in until removed. For many fans, it was a repeat of a familiar script. Boone has faced second-guessing in past Octobers, including a controversial call to use Nestor Cortes in last year’s World Series, which backfired immediately. The Yankees’ inability to trust their starters deep into games has often left them exposed, and this latest decision reignited those debates.
The loss highlights larger issues for the Yankees. Their bullpen has been a weakness throughout the season, finishing with a 4.37 ERA, one of the worst in baseball. While Boone can argue that his process was sound, the results continue to fuel frustration. The decision to rest left-handed hitters Ben Rice, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Ryan McMahon also raised questions, as Boston’s lefty starter dominated the right-handed-heavy lineup. Even with opportunities late, New York could not deliver the timely hit, a problem that has haunted them in crucial games.
As the series moves forward, the Yankees must regroup quickly to avoid another early postseason exit. Boone’s faith in his bullpen has once again left the team vulnerable, and with Boston now holding the advantage, every pitching decision in the next games will be magnified even more. The Yankees entered October hoping their offense and pitching depth could erase doubts from past seasons, but after Game 1, the same concerns remain firmly in place.
