The New York Yankees eliminated the Boston Red Sox from the 2026 postseason with a 9-2 victory on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium, completing a two-game sweep in their Wild Card series.
Sonny Gray Pulled After 70 Pitches in Fifth Inning
Needing a victory to extend their season, the Red Sox handed the ball to 18-game winner Sonny Gray. Gray kept Boston within striking distance, but manager Chad Tracy lifted the right-hander after 70 pitches with two outs in the fifth inning and runners on the corners following a single by Ben Rice. Tracy turned to his bullpen, but the move unraveled when reliever Erik Miller surrendered a run-scoring single to Cody Bellinger. Bellinger entered the game having batted .310 against left-handed pitchers over the previous two seasons.
Garrett Crochet Struggles in Postseason Relief Return
Seeking length and high-velocity outs, Boston deployed star starting pitcher Garrett Crochet in the sixth inning for his first appearance since April 25 and his first relief outing since 2023 with the Chicago White Sox. Returning from a shoulder injury, the left-hander recorded a strikeout before issuing a wild pitch to Spencer Jones, failing to retire a single batter. Bellinger followed with a three-run home run off right-hander Garrett Whitlock, capping a six-run frame that broke the game open at 8-1.
Offensive Drought Dooms Boston After Wild Season
Boston’s lineup spent 26 postseason innings without scoring a run across two Octobers before Willson Contreras hit a solo home run in the sixth inning on Wednesday. The loss concluded a volatile 2026 campaign for the Red Sox, who opened the year with a 32-46 record before mounting a 15-game winning streak in July to claw back into postseason contention.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Series
How many total runs did the Red Sox score in the series?
The Red Sox scored a total of two runs across the two-game Wild Card series, losing the opener 9-0 on Tuesday before dropping Wednesday’s elimination game 9-2.
What was Chad Tracy’s rationale for pulling his starting pitchers early?
At 41 years old and managing his first postseason games, Tracy turned to his relief corps early in both contests—removing Payton Tolle after 83 pitches in Game 1 and Sonny Gray after 70 pitches in Game 2—to use what had been the best regular-season bullpen.
When did Garrett Crochet last pitch before his relief appearance?
Garrett Crochet had not pitched in a major league game since April 25 due to a shoulder injury before making his relief appearance in the sixth inning on Wednesday night.
