Yankees Sweep Red Sox to Advance to ALDS

The New York Yankees swept the Boston Red Sox 9-2 in the decisive game of the AL Wild Card Series on September 30, 2026, securing their spot in the AL Division Series. Max Fried pitched effectively, dominating the Red Sox for the second consecutive year in the playoffs. Cody Bellinger and Luis Garcia Jr. provided offensive support, each hitting home runs during the game.

Initially, the Yankees held a narrow 2-1 lead after Willson Contreras ended Boston's 26-inning postseason scoreless streak with a home run. The Yankees then exploded for six runs in the sixth inning. An unusual start to the inning saw Spencer Jones reaching base on a wild pitch while striking out, following a video review that overturned the initial call. Garcia, making his postseason debut, had a standout game with three hits, while Bellinger contributed with four RBIs including a critical three-run homer that extended the lead to 8-1.

New York's pitching ace Max Fried returned to postseason form with a three-hit performance over six innings, marking his first postseason victory since clinching the 2021 World Series with Atlanta. The Yankees featured eight left-handed hitters against Boston's Sonny Gray. Garcia's homer gave the Yankees an early lead, followed by Bellinger's RBI single off lefty Erik Miller who was in relief.

Bellinger caught the ceremonial first pitch from his father, Clay Bellinger, a former Yankees player who won a World Series with the team in 2000. The sixth inning included a series of unusual plays, marked by Jones’ strikeouts to start and end the half-inning, which also saw multiple base-running errors and a wild pitch.

Garrett Crochet, who previously defeated the Yankees in the 2025 Wild Card Series opener, pitched for Boston for the first time since April due to left shoulder inflammation, but struggled to find his rhythm. In the seventh inning, Nick Sogard managed a solo homer off Will Warren.

This victory marked the second straight year that the Yankees eliminated the Red Sox from the playoffs. Boston's team performance was notably poor, hitting just .117 across the two games, with 18 strikeouts and being outscored 18-2. The Yankees will now face the AL East champion Tampa Bay in the AL Division Series, beginning on Saturday.