The New York Yankees secured a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series as Jazz Chisholm Jr. sprinted home from first base on Austin Wells’ go-ahead single in the eighth inning. Chisholm, who was initially left out of the starting lineup, also delivered a crucial defensive play at second base that helped push the series to a decisive Game 3 scheduled for the following day.
In a thrilling continuation of the historic rivalry between the two teams, the winner will progress to face the AL East champions, the Toronto Blue Jays, in a best-of-five Division Series starting on Saturday. The Yankees received offensive contributions from Ben Rice, who smacked a two-run homer, and Aaron Judge, who added an RBI single. Their bullpen, led by Devin Williams and David Bednar, held off the Red Sox to secure the win.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Guardians leveled their AL Wild Card Series against the Detroit Tigers with a 6-1 triumph at home in Game 2. Brayan Rocchio and Bo Naylor powered the Guardians with late-game home runs in a five-run eighth inning, setting up a decisive third game. The victor will advance to face the Seattle Mariners in the Division Series.
Over in the NL Wild Card Series, Manny Machado’s two-run homer and Mason Miller’s dominant pitching performance propelled the San Diego Padres to a 3-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs, forcing a Game 3 showdown. The Padres are aiming for a repeat of their 2020 postseason success, while the Cubs seek to advance in their first playoff appearance in five years.
Lastly, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 to advance to the National League Division Series. Yoshinobu Yamamoto showcased stellar pitching, striking out nine batters and leading the Dodgers to victory through a combination of small-ball strategies and hitting prowess. The Dodgers will face the Philadelphia Phillies in the upcoming NLDS.
