The Red Sox bested the Yankees in the most recent ALDS series, yet barring a major unforeseen setback for either side it was just a taste for more to come in future seasons. Both teams are young and have multiple MVP caliber players with passionate fanbases that love to hate one another, and this series awakened the long-lasting loathing between them.
Chris Sale pitched the first game for the Red Sox and was his typical dominant self. With early run support from the best in league Red Sox, it was smooth sailing through the early innings. After jumping out to a nice 5 run lead, Chris Sale ran into some trouble in the sixth inning and brought out Ryan Brasier, who did not get the Sox back in the dugout until 2 of Sale’s runners scored.
This started the revolving door of relief pitchers, which alternated from Brasier to Brandon Workman, to Matt Barnes, to Rick Porcello, to Craig Kimbrel. The Sox could not score after the early 5 runs, though held the Yankees to 4 to win the game.
The second game the Yankees jumped on David Price early and did not take their cleats off the sox necks. After getting Price out early in the second, noted Yankee fighter Joe Kelly came in and quieted New York’s bats until getting pulled after the fifth. Ryan Brasier returned after pitching the previous night throwing a scoreless inning, until Brandon Workman and Eduardo Rodriguez combined to allow 3 runs through 2 innings.
The Sox lost as they did not have the offense to match New York, losing 6-2. The most significant moment for the Red Sox as a result of this game was, however, Aaron Judge leaving Fenway Park blaring Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” in the halls of the storied Boston stadium.
In the third game, the Sox came with a vengeance. With the Yankees’ Luis Severino on the mound, the Red Sox were all over the pitches, getting six quick runs in the first three innings. After Severino, the Yankees trotted out five more relief pitchers, giving up a combined 10 runs. The Sox crushed New York, 16-1.
The fourth and final game was a nail biter just like the first. After a slow start by both teams, the Sox put together some offense in the third and fourth inning, scoring four runs. The Yankees scored one in the fifth, then both teams remained quiet until the ninth.
Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel came out to finish the Yankees off, but gave up two runs and allowed the tying run to move into scoring position before New York’s Gleyber Torres grounded out to third base and sent the Yankees home to watch the ALCS from the couch.
While the Red Sox series win was excellent start to the postseason for the league’s best record, it was a great omen for things to come. Baseball is at its best when the Yankees and Red Sox are elite, and the storied rivalry looks to add another chapter in their history.
Mookie Betts and Aaron Judge are the two teams’ headliners, MVP level right fielders who play the game very differently yet lead their teams to dominance. They both have potent offense with big time power hitters and guys that are on base machines.
The Red Sox have high level starters, with established throwers in Chris Sale and David Price, the up and coming Eduardo Rodriguez along with great backend guys in Rick Porcello and Nathan Eovaldi. The Yankees, on the other hand, have perhaps the league’s best bullpen, with high level relievers in David Robinson and Zach Britton, not to mention baseball’s most famous flamethrower Aroldis Chapman.
These two teams cores will look to duke it out against each other in the AL East for years to come, and it is doubtful that this is the last time they will meet in October.
