The New York Yankees blanked the Boston Red Sox 4-0 on Thursday night, advancing to the ALDS over their arch-rival behind an all-time pitching performance from rookie pitcher Cam Schlittler, a native of the Boston suburbs who made his big league debut less than three months ago.
The win gives New York their first postseason series victory over the Red Sox in their last four attempts, dating back to the 2004 American League Championship Series that saw Boston end an 84-year championship drought. The Yankees came up with timely hits in a big fourth inning, aided by defensive miscues from the Red Sox, as they logged a knockout blow for the first time in more than two decades. Here are the winners and losers from Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series.
Winner: Cam Schlittler
Making his postseason debut and just the 15th start of his big league career in a do-or-die elimination game, Schlittler made his mark on this storied rivalry with one of the best games in postseason history. The 6-foot-6 right-hander limited the Red Sox to five hits in eight scoreless innings, striking out 12 batters across 107 pitches without issuing any walks.
In the first game of his career against the Yankees’ hated rival, Schlittler gave New York their first postseason series win against Boston since 2003, forever etching his name into the annals of baseball lore. He’s now just two players in MLB history to last more than six shutout innings with more than ten strikeouts and no walks in an elimination game.
Winner: Yankees Fans
After more than two decades of postseason futility against the Red Sox, a span that saw Boston reverse the trend of the previous century and win four World Series to the Yankees one, beating New York on their way to hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy in 2004 (when they erased a 3-0 series deficit to do so) and 2018 along with a loss in the 2021 American League Wild Card Game, the Yankees got a lick back on Thursday night.
New York has appeared to stagnate since their 2009 World Series win, falling behind other AL mainstays like Boston and the Houston Astros, and their struggles against their biggest rival on the brightest stages encapsulates that fall from grace. For at least one more round this season, however, and until they meet again in October, Yankees fans hold all the bragging rights. They’ve been waiting since Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS.
Loser: Connelly Early
Red Sox starter Connelly Early allowed three runs in 3.2 innings, chased from the game after Boston melted down in the fourth inning. It wasn’t all his fault, as a kicked ball from first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and a miscommunication in the outfield converted plays that should’ve been outs into runs scored, but it’s Early’s final line that took the brunt of the damage.
A rookie like Schlittler, Early made his big league debut on Sept. 9, and this game served as his introduction to the Yankees – Red Sox rivalry. Unlike Schlittler, his first taste of that matchup ended in postseason heartbreak instead of glory. While Early had his moments, striking out six batters across 11 outs recorded, his inability to stop the bleeding meant the Red Sox and their sleepy offense had little chance of coming away with a win.
Loser: Nathaniel Lowe
Red Sox first baseman Nathaniel Lowe allowed the Yankees rally to continue in the fourth inning with an error on a fielders’ choice that helped two runs score. Defensive fundamentals escaped Boston throughout the inning, as a pop-up dropped in no man’s land between Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu — a play both outfielders had a shot at, had they communicated properly — allowing Cody Bellinger to lead off the decisive frame with a double.
Lowe didn’t perform much better at the plate, going 1-for-7 with a strikeout despite not having to face New York’s left-handed starters. The Red Sox needed more out of their first baseman.
