The New York Yankees swept the Boston Red Sox in their American League Wild Card Series with a decisive 9-2 victory at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday. This win secured the Yankees’ advancement to the AL Division Series, where they will face the Tampa Bay Rays, the AL East champions, beginning Saturday.

Max Fried, who has been a consistent playoff performer against Boston, delivered a dominant pitching performance for the second consecutive year. Offensively, the Yankees were powered by home runs from Cody Bellinger and Luis García Jr., both key contributors in the team’s six-run sixth inning that broke the game open. García, a midseason acquisition making his postseason debut, recorded three hits, while Bellinger drove in four runs, including a three-run homer that extended New York’s lead to 8-1.

The game remained close at 2-1 until Wilson Contreras homered to break Boston’s previously unscored-upon 26-inning postseason streak. The six-run rally in the sixth was triggered by Spencer Jones reaching base on a wild pitch, which was initially ruled a strikeout but reversed after a video review.

Despite missing captain Aaron Judge, sidelined by a right calf injury, the Yankees showed resilience and depth. Judge praised the team’s effort, noting the offense eventually surged while the pitching staff maintained control.

The Red Sox, who overcame a poor start to the regular season to reach the playoffs, were limited to a .117 batting average over the series, with 18 strikeouts and a total of only two runs. Boston was outscored 18-2 across the two games, extending its first-round playoff losing streak against New York to two consecutive years.

Boston manager Chad Tracy expressed frustration following the elimination. He acknowledged the team’s achievements over the summer but emphasized that the ultimate goal was winning the World Series, a pursuit that ended with Tuesday’s defeat.

Looking ahead, Bellinger highlighted the challenge the Yankees face in Tampa Bay, recalling their narrow season series loss of 7-6 to the Rays. The upcoming AL Division Series will test New York’s ability to carry momentum against a strong divisional rival.