The New York Yankees secured a 9-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday to complete a two-game sweep in the American League wild-card series. Cody Bellinger was a key contributor, driving in four runs, including a three-run homer during a six-run sixth inning at Yankee Stadium. The win marks the Yankees’ second consecutive wild-card series victory over Boston and advances them to the AL Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, set to begin Saturday in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Bellinger’s pivotal home run came off Garrett Whitlock after Boston intentionally walked Ben Rice, extending New York’s lead to 8-1. Earlier in the game, Bellinger added an RBI single in the fifth inning to extend the Yankees’ lead. Luis Garcia Jr. also homered, opening the scoring with a leadoff shot against Sonny Gray. Max Fried, who earned the win, allowed one run on three hits over six innings while striking out six batters.
The Yankees’ offense was bolstered by a productive sixth inning where they sent 10 batters to the plate, starting with rookie Spencer Jones’s hustle on the bases. Jones reached second and third on defensive miscues before scoring on a single by George Lombard Jr. The inning continued with a series of productive outs, including a sacrifice fly by Austin Wells and an RBI groundout by Ryan McMahon.
Boston managed only two runs in the game—solo home runs from Willson Contreras and Nick Soard. Red Sox starter Sonny Gray pitched 4⅓ innings, giving up two runs on six hits with five strikeouts. Relief pitcher Garrett Crochet, appearing for the first time since April due to a shoulder injury, was charged with four runs without recording an out. The Red Sox, who surged late in the season after a midyear managerial change, ended their postseason run with just seven hits in the series.
In other wild-card results, the Chicago White Sox completed a two-game sweep of the Houston Astros with a 7-3 win in Houston. Chicago built an early 4-0 lead in the first inning and maintained control throughout the game. Chase Meidroth’s three-run homer in the sixth inning provided crucial insurance for Chicago. The White Sox will face the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Division Series, starting Saturday in Cleveland.
The San Diego Padres also advanced, sweeping the National League wild-card series with a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. Gavin Sheets delivered a two-run pinch-hit home run to secure the win. San Diego’s bullpen contributed 5 2/3 innings of scoreless relief as they prepared to face the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Division Series starting Saturday in Milwaukee.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies won 4-3 in 10 innings over the Atlanta Braves in Game 2, tying the series at one game apiece. Alec Bohm’s solo homer with two outs in the 10th inning provided the decisive run. The Phillies rallied from a 3-1 deficit with back-to-back homers from Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper in the eighth inning. The teams are set to play a winner-take-all Game 3 on Thursday in Atlanta. Phillies rookie Andrew Painter delivered three scoreless innings in his postseason debut, while Braves starter Tyler Mahle, despite an abdominal injury, allowed one run over seven innings.