Fried Dominates as Yankees Sweep Red Sox in Wild Card Series
New York pitcher delivers six strong innings, aided by Bellinger's three-run homer, to clinch series win.
Max Fried tossed six innings of one-run ball, and Cody Bellinger’s three-run home run in the sixth inning propelled the New York Yankees to a 9-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of the wild-card series. The win secured a series sweep for the Yankees, who will advance to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS.
Fried followed up starter Cam Schlittler’s performance from Game 1 with his own dominant outing, keeping the Red Sox bats largely in check. This marked the second consecutive game that a Yankees starting pitcher stifled Boston’s offense.
"Look, with this group, I feel like it’s going to take everyone. So that’s my plan day in and day out. It’s going to be a little different potentially. And that phrase ‘all hands on deck’ certainly applies to us with our team right now,” manager Aaron Boone had said before the game.
After Luis García Jr. provided an early lead with a home run in the fourth inning, Bellinger extended the Yankees' advantage with his decisive three-run blast in the sixth. The Yankees' offense continued its strong showing from Game 1, resulting in another lopsided victory.
The Red Sox struggled offensively throughout the series. Dating back to last year's postseason, Boston’s lineup had gone nearly three full games without scoring entering Game 2. They remained scoreless until the sixth inning on Sept. 30, 2026, when they finally put runs on the board, but it was not enough to overcome the Yankees' lead. Boston manager Chad Tracy had expressed concerns about his team’s offensive performance prior to the game, which were unfortunately realized in the defeat.