The Boston Red Sox fell to the New York Yankees 9-0 in the opening game of the American League Wild Card Series on Tuesday evening, placing their postseason hopes in jeopardy. The loss leaves the Red Sox facing elimination, as they must win the next two games to advance.

Walpole native Cam Schlittler delivered a dominant performance on the mound for the Yankees, pitching 6⅔ innings while allowing only two hits, issuing one walk, and striking out 10 batters. Schlittler retired 14 of the first 15 batters he faced, extending his impressive track record against Boston with a 0.47 career ERA.

Offensively, Yankees player Ben Rice from Cohasset was a key contributor, driving in six runs with four hits. His two home runs included an eighth-inning grand slam that sealed the Yankees’ commanding victory.

Red Sox manager Chad Tracy acknowledged the difficult task ahead for his team as they look to recover in the series. Game 2 features a pitching matchup between Boston’s Sonny Gray and New York’s Max Fried.

The longstanding rivalry between the Red Sox and Yankees continues to draw significant attention, even as Major League Baseball’s overall popularity has waned compared to previous decades.