The New York Yankees evened their Wild Card series against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. The Yanks pulled off a dramatic 4-3 win, showcasing their resilience.
New York got a crucial base hit from catcher Austin Well in the eighth inning to drive in the go-ahead run. The lead stuck as David Bednar nailed the game down in the ninth inning.
Now, the Yankees carry the momentum into Game 3, hoping to dispatch the Red Sox and secure a showdown with the Toronto Blue Jays.
So, here’s a look at the keys for the New York Yankees to advance to the AL Division Series.
Yankees’ Keys to Game 3 Win
Jump on Boston early
This Yankees-Red Sox series hasn’t disappointed. It’s been a tight-pitching series with runs coming at a premium. But Game 3 could be different. Neither side figured to send an ace like Max Fried or Carlos Rodon to the hill.
Instead, Game 3 could feature young, unproven starters. That could mean a recipe for a high-scoring ballgame. As such, the Yankees must get to the Red Sox early. Scoring big in the first three innings could force Boston manager Alex Cora to dip into his bullpen much sooner than anticipated.
If that’s the case, the Yankees could open up a big enough lead to let their pitching staff relax and do its job.
At worst, the Yanks could get into a slugfest. While not ideal, New York has the offensive power to win a high-scoring affair.
Judge Must Inflict Damage
The Red Sox have done a great job of keeping Aaron Judge at bay. While the Yankee captain has four hits and one RBI in the two games, he hasn’t inflicted as much damage on Boston as Yankees fans would have hoped.
That’s why getting Judge to hammer the Red Sox will be a crucial element to winning Game 3. It seems like Judge is on the verge of breaking out at any time. Game 3 could be that moment, as Boston’s pitching staff may not be able to contain him much longer.
By the same token, Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton could finally bust loose. Stanton went 0-4 in Game 2, while Bellinger had a hit and scored a run. While it’s great to get contributions from players like Jaz Chisholm Jr. and Austin Wells, the Yankees‘ big bats must be the ones to pick up the slack in Game 3.
Yankees Bullpen Crucial Again
In Game 1, it was the Yankees’ bullpen that let the game slip away. Red Sox starter Garrett Crochet kept his team in the game long enough for the offense to catch up.
In Game 2, it was the opposite. The Yankees‘ bullpen came through after Carlos Rodon delivered six solid innings.
Fernando Cruz’s gutsy 7th inning set the stage for the Yankees to pull out the victory. Then Devin Williams and David Bednar were lights out in the 8th and 9th innings.
That’s a performance the Yankees will need to get in Game 3. While the bullpen may factor into the matchup early, the back end must come through as expected. Hopefully, none of the Yankees’ high-leverage arms will be needed. But if they are, they’ll have to lock the game down if the Yanks are to advance on Thursday night.
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