Game result and context
New York Yankees defeat Boston Red Sox 9-0 in 2026 AL Wild Card Series Game 1
The New York Yankees secured a 9-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox in the first game of the 2026 AL Wild Card Series, behind a dominant pitching performance and a multi-home run effort from Ben Rice.
Final result
The New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-0 in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series. With this win, the Yankees move to a 1-0 record in the series, while the Red Sox fall to 0-1.
The scoring began in the second inning and remained steady before a five-run outburst in the eighth inning put the game out of reach for Boston.
How the game changed
The game remained a tight contest through the middle innings, with the Yankees holding a slim 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. The Yankees broke the game open in that frame, scoring five runs to extend their lead to 9-0. Ben Rice provided the decisive blow in the eighth with a grand slam, his second home run of the game, effectively ending any chance of a Boston comeback.
Key performances
Ben Rice led the Yankees' offense, finishing the game 4-for-5 with two home runs and six RBIs. Austin Wells contributed two hits and two RBIs, while George Lombard Jr. added three hits and scored two runs.
On the mound, Cam Schlittler earned the win for New York, pitching 6.1 scoreless innings and striking out 10 batters. For the Red Sox, Payton Tolle took the loss, allowing one earned run over 4.2 innings of work while recording four strikeouts.
Season and playoff context
This game marks the first contest of the 2026 AL Wild Card Series, a best-of-three matchup. The Yankees currently lead the series 1-0. The Red Sox enter the series with a 0-1 record, while the Yankees hold a 1-0 record.