Hosting a potential American League Wild Card Series remains a major priority for the Boston Red Sox, especially after they lost last October’s winner-take-all Game 3 against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
“That’s important,” said Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy. “I won’t shy away from that. It’s a home-field advantage when you’re playing at home for most people. It wasn’t for us for a while, but it has been lately. So, yeah, I think if you get a short series, and you’re able to play in your home ballpark, that stuff matters for sure.”
Boston took a setback in that pursuit Friday, losing a tense 1-0 game in the opener of a four-game series at Yankee Stadium.
The defeat left the Red Sox three games behind the Yankees for the American League’s top Wild Card position. The winner of the season series would host the Wild Card Series if the rivals finish the regular season with identical records.
The equation for the remainder of the weekend is simple: Boston must win two of the final three games to secure the season series.
“That’s the plan, to win the series and go home,” said Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela.
Rafaela was also at the center of the game’s pivotal play, getting thrown out at home on a laser throw from Cody Bellinger that prevented the tying run from scoring in the top of the seventh inning.
“We haven’t scored much lately, so you gotta take your shot,” Tracy said. “You get the ball in the air, which is what you need, and you have a really good baserunner in Rafa and speed at third. You’re going to take your shot. With him running, it’s got to be a perfect throw. And he made a perfect throw right on the money.”
Although the Red Sox worked Yankees ace Cam Schlittler hard—he lasted 5 2/3 innings, issued five walks and threw 96 pitches—they could not score against him or New York’s bullpen.
Rafaela takes responsibility for two outs on the bases
Rafaela was thrown out on the bases twice Friday: once after a baserunning mistake and once after Bellinger made the game’s defining defensive play.
Boston appeared to be building a strong scoring chance in the fifth inning, with cleanup hitter Willson Contreras due up and two runners already on base. But Rafaela ended the rally before Contreras could come to the plate. On a relatively routine flyball to center by Wilyer Abreu, Rafaela strayed too far from first base and was doubled off to end the inning.
“That’s a bad read on me. That’s really bad,” Rafaela said.
Contreras did come to the plate in the seventh inning with runners on second and third and one out. He hit a 262-foot flyball to left field. With the slumping Adley Rutschman on deck, it appeared to be an opportunity for Boston to be aggressive.
Rafaela tagged from third but was thrown out at home on Bellinger’s 99.7-mph throw, creating another inning-ending flyout-double play.
Rafaela said it was his decision to tag up, while interim third base coach Chad Epperson told him to stay.
“He tried [to hold me],” said Rafaela. “So that’s on me. That’s not him. Trying to be over aggressive, and those things happen.”
However, Tracy—whose team has now been shut out in consecutive games for the first time this season—described the situation differently.
“We were all screaming. That’s a definite [send], especially at that point in the game,” Tracy said.
Red Sox pinch-hitting rally comes up short
In perhaps his most aggressive sequence since becoming interim manager on April 25, Tracy used three consecutive pinch-hitters in the sixth inning after Caleb Durbin drew a two-out walk that ended Schlittler’s night.
With left-hander Brent Headrick entering for New York, Tracy sent up right-handed hitters Jahmai Jones, Eli White and Andruw Monasterio. Jones walked and White reached on an infield hit to load the bases, but Monasterio lined out to right field to end the threat.
“I think at that point, we’re into 14 innings where we’re trying to get a run across,” Tracy said. “It’s like, let’s take our shot and go right there. Almost got it, and it just didn’t work.”
Sandoval delivers strong start against Yankees
Left-hander Patrick Sandoval, a significant underdog against top Cy Young candidate Schlittler, more than held his own. Sandoval limited the Yankees to three hits and one run over 5 1/3 innings, walking four and striking out seven.
A solo home run by Goldschmidt in the bottom of the third inning was Sandoval’s only costly pitch. The performance was likely the best of his nine starts since returning from Tommy John surgery.
“That’s what you want to do as a baseball player is play in these big games, high leverage, with something on the line,” Sandoval said. “And it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to do that. So that was really fun and I was really grateful for this opportunity.”
