About Last Night: The Yankees Survived and Advanced Against the Red Sox 4-0
- Tim Kabel
- 11 hours ago
- 6 min read
About Last Night: The Yankees Survived and Advanced Against the Red Sox 4-0
By Tim Kabel
October 3, 2025
***
Last night, the Yankees eliminated the Boston Red Sox and advanced to the Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, which will begin on Saturday. The game started out as a “Battle of the Rookies” between Cam Schlittler and Connelly Early. Well, Connelly was gone early, and Schlittler dominated the game like not only a veteran, but also an ace. Early did not necessarily pitch badly. He was let down by poor fielding and sloppy play by his teammates. In the past, these things happened to the Yankees. Remember Game Five of last year's World Series? This time, the Yankees outclassed the Red Sox and dominated the game.
Quick Stats –
· Cam Schlittler threw 75 of 107 pitches for strikes, starting 22 of 29 batters with strikes. His fastest pitch was 100.8 miles an hour.
· The Yankees won their second straight game against the Red Sox, after losing eight of their nine previous postseason meetings with them dating to 2004. They now lead in postseason matchups against the Red Sox 14-13.
· With his 12 strikeouts, Schlittler struck out two more than any other Yankees’ pitcher making a postseason debut. He threw 11 pitches that were clocked at 100 mph or faster.
· The Yankees became the first team to lose the opener of a best-of-three Wild Card series and come back to advance to the Divisional Series since Major League Baseball expanded the first round in 2022.
· Connelly Early was the youngest pitcher to start a postseason game for the Red Sox since 21-year-old Babe Ruth in 1916. My friend Roger was at that game and got Babe's autograph. Naturally, he tried to correct Babe’s spelling.
· On October 2nd, 1949, the Yankees faced the Red Sox in a single-game playoff to determine the American League champion. The Yankees won the game 5-3, with Phil Rizzuto scoring the first run in the first inning and the Yankees holding on for the win.
· On October 2nd, 1978, Bucky Dent hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning to propel the Yankees to a 5-4 victory over the Red Sox in a one-game playoff to determine the American League East champion. Last night, Bucky Dent threw out the first pitch before the game, which was very fitting.
Big Story –
I don't often agree with Aaron Boone, or at least the moves he makes as a manager. It's not as if we are diametrically opposed on every single issue in the world. We are not. I think he cares about the team, and I think he tries very hard. I just don't think he's a very good manager. There are worse things in life. That being said, I wholeheartedly agree with what Boone said regarding Cam Schlittler last night. Boone stated, “A star is born tonight. He's a special kid, man.”
Think about it. This was an extremely pressure-packed game. The Yankees were facing elimination against their ancient rival. The Red Sox had dominated the season series against the Yankees. The stadium was packed to the rafters. The atmosphere was as nerve-wracking as any game in recent history for the Yankees. Cam Schlittler was making his 15th start in the Major Leagues. He had only pitched 7 innings once in his Major League career. He was facing the team he grew up rooting for. The most strikeouts he had had in a game was 9, on September 27th against the Orioles. He had issued at least one walk in every game he had pitched in the Major Leagues.
Schlittler had pitched very well since coming up to the Major Leagues on July 9th. If he had not, he wouldn't have been on the mound last night. Yet what he did last night, under the circumstances in which he did it, was truly something special. Schlittler pitched eight shutout innings with twelve strikeouts and no walks. He allowed only five hits. That does not mean Schlittler will do that every time he pitches. That does not mean he will have a tremendous career as a Yankee. That does not mean he will have a plaque in Monument Park. It means that he is capable of delivering a dominant performance under the most difficult circumstances imaginable. He is someone who could, not will necessarily, but could, be an important player for the Yankees not just this season but moving forward. To have a performance like that last night is something that could loom as very important not only for Schlittler but also for the Yankees well into the future.
Player of the Game –
Gee, I wonder who it could be. Cam Schlittler took his place in the history of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, right next to Bucky Dent and Aaron Boone.
Notable Performances–
Ryan McMahon, who came into the game as a defensive replacement for Amed Rosario, made the defensive play of the game when he caught Jarren Duran's 8th inning foul pop and somersaulted into the Red Sox dugout and then emerged unscathed.
This did not occur during the game but instead, it was afterward. When Giancarlo Stanton was interviewed by Meredith Marakovits after the game, he addressed the ball he hit in the second inning that he thought was going to be a home run. It was not. He did not run out of the box and was lucky to make it to second base safely. He openly admitted that it was something he shouldn't have done and that it could have potentially cost the Yankees the game. He stated “Kids at home, don't do this. Future opponents, please do this.” For him to take the time and responsibility to address that was impressive.
Better To Forget-
Absolutely nothing. Even Bucky Dent’s first pitch had some zip on it.
My Take –
Last night's game was a tremendous win for the Yankees. It was one of the more exciting and impressive Yankees’ wins in the postseason we have seen in a long time. Prior to the game, there was a lot of criticism of the moves Aaron Boone made in the first game, which the Yankees lost. While all of that may not be forgotten, at this point, it doesn't matter anymore. The Yankees won and they advanced to the Division Series against the Blue Jays. I wonder if it will be a Long Division series.
I have written often about the need for the Yankees to be “Boone-Proofed” if they were going to advance in the postseason. Last night, Cam Schlittler Boone-Proofed the Yankees. His performance was so masterful and dominant that it removed any real possibility of managerial malfeasance. For a moment, I was worried that Boone might pull Schlittler after either the 6th or 7th innings, simply to adhere to a prescribed formula. (After all, we saw what happened with Max Fried, and subsequently the bullpen on Tuesday night) Boone did not do so. Schlittler retired the Red Sox in order in the 7th and then did the same in the 8th inning, using only 7 pitches in that inning. Conceivably, Boone could have let Schlittler take the mound in the 9th inning, but that would have been pushing it.
The point is that the Yankees scored enough runs, played solid defense, and received an incredible performance from their young starting pitcher. All Aaron Boone had to do was stay out of the way. He did that. He deserves credit for that. Sometimes the best thing to do is to do nothing. Sometimes the best moves are the ones that are not made. A manager doesn't necessarily have to make moves simply to make moves. Last night, Boone did not become an issue. He did not become the story. The Yankees won and will now play Toronto. If Boone can stick to last night’s script against the Blue Jays, perhaps the Yankees will win. However, it is unlikely that the Yankees will get performances like the one Schlittler gave them last night in every game. We can dream though, can’t we?
Next Up-
The Yankees will play the first game of the Division Series against the Blue Jays on Saturday at 4:08 PM at Rogers Centre. The pitching matchup has not yet been announced.
