New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler and Ben Rice led a 9-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox in their Wild Card Series opener Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. Schlittler struck out 10 batters over 6 1/3 scoreless innings, while Rice hit a late grand slam and drove in six runs to help the Yankees secure a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-three matchup.
Schlittler and Rice Deliver in Postseason Rematch Against Hometown Team
Both Schlittler and Rice grew up in Massachusetts as Red Sox fans and played college baseball in New England before joining the Yankees. Last season, Schlittler ended Boston’s playoff run with a dominant Game 3 performance. In Tuesday’s opener, the right-hander allowed just two singles and one walk across 117 pitches. Yankees manager Aaron Boone noted the unusual storyline of two local Massachusetts natives starring for New York against their childhood team, telling reporters he is glad to have them on the roster.
Schlittler retired 13 batters before issuing a fifth-inning walk to a sellout crowd of 48,437. After exiting in the seventh, reliever Paul Blackburn induced a double play to keep the 2-0 lead intact. Schlittler holds a 4-1 record and a 0.47 ERA with 49 strikeouts in six career starts against Boston.
Offensive Explosion Powered by Rice’s Record-Tying Night
With star slugger Aaron Judge sidelined by a calf injury, Rice filled the offensive void. He opened the scoring in the fifth with a 423-foot solo home run off reliever Erik Miller into Monument Park. Rice added a run-scoring single in the seventh and capped a five-run eighth inning with a grand slam to right-center field.
Rice’s grand slam marked the 16th in Yankees postseason history and tied the franchise single-game postseason record with six RBIs. Austin Wells drove in two runs, and 21-year-old rookie George Lombard Jr. added three hits in his postseason debut as New York outhit Boston 12-3. Rice finished the night with four hits, including two home runs and a double.
Historical Postseason Context and Upcoming Matchup
Game 2 of the series takes place Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium. A victory would advance New York to a best-of-five Division Series against AL East champion Tampa Bay. Historically, Game 1 winners have advanced 15 times in 16 best-of-three Wild Card Series since the format’s adoption, with Boston being the only exception last year.
The Red Sox will send right-hander Sonny Gray (18-5, 2.72 ERA) to the mound against one of his former teams. The Yankees counter with left-hander Max Fried (5-5, 2.80 ERA), who was limited to 20 starts this season due to two stints on the injured list with a bruised left elbow.
Red Sox vs. Yankees Series Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Game 1 of the Wild Card Series?
The New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-0 in the opening matchup.
How many RBIs did Ben Rice have in the game?
Ben Rice drove in six runs, matching the Yankees’ franchise record for a postseason game.
Who is pitching in Game 2?
Right-hander Sonny Gray is scheduled to pitch for the Red Sox, while left-hander Max Fried will start for the Yankees.
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