Yankees’ Boone Defends Pulling Fried After Loss to Red Sox/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Yankees dropped Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series to the Red Sox, 3–1, as another bullpen breakdown overshadowed Max Fried’s strong start. Manager Aaron Boone defended his decision-making, including the call to bring in Luke Weaver. New York’s postseason hopes now hang in the balance as questions swirl around Boone’s bullpen usage.
Yankees Bullpen Struggles Again Quick Looks
- Max Fried pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings before being pulled at 102 pitches
- Boone turned to Luke Weaver, who allowed three runs without recording an out
- David Bednar gave up insurance hits in the ninth
- Yankees’ bullpen ERA ranked 23rd in MLB at 4.37
- Boone defended his decision: “I’ll take Weave there at the bottom of the order”
- Offense missed chance to tie the game with bases loaded, no outs in the 9th
- Criticism grew over benching lefties against Boston’s Garrett Crochet
- Red Sox starter Crochet retired 17 straight Yankees after giving up solo HR
- Yankees now must win next game to avoid early playoff exit
Deep Look
Boone Faces Heat as Yankees Bullpen Blows Lead in Game 1 Loss to Red Sox
NEW YORK — Another October, another bullpen meltdown. For the New York Yankees, Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series against their fierce rivals, the Boston Red Sox, ended with a 3–1 loss and renewed criticism of manager Aaron Boone’s postseason decisions.
Despite a masterful start from ace Max Fried, who allowed just four hits over 6 1/3 scoreless innings, Boone’s decision to turn to the bullpen unraveled quickly. The Yankees had a slim 1–0 lead, thanks to Anthony Volpe’s solo home run, but it didn’t hold for long.
Boone had originally intended to pull Fried after six innings but allowed him to get one more out after a double play in the seventh lowered his pitch count to 99. Fried recorded the out, reaching 102 pitches, and Boone handed the ball to reliever Luke Weaver.
Weaver Struggles, Red Sox Pounce
Weaver entered with one out and a runner on, but the inning spiraled. He walked Ceddanne Rafaela after an 11-pitch at-bat, then gave up a double to Nick Sogard, followed by a pinch-hit, two-run single from Masataka Yoshida. Weaver was pulled without recording an out.
Boone defended the decision postgame.
“I’ll take Weave there at the bottom of the order, especially with an out in the books,” he said.
Weaver, who had a stellar first half before an injury in June, struggled after returning, finishing the regular season with a 5.31 ERA over his final 40 appearances, compared to 1.05 before the injury.
“I just got to be better,” Weaver said. “I know there’s a lot of disappointed people, including myself.”
Missed Opportunity in the Ninth
The Yankees still had a chance to tie the game in the ninth, loading the bases with no outs, but couldn’t push a run across. Former Yankee Aroldis Chapman escaped the jam for Boston, recording the final four outs to secure the win.
“One hit there and we tie the game,” said Paul Goldschmidt, who started the ninth-inning rally with a single. “Unfortunately, it didn’t work out.”
New York had scored in 25 of its previous 28 innings when loading the bases with no outs, making the missed opportunity especially frustrating.
Boone’s Bullpen Management Under the Microscope
Boone’s postseason pitching decisions have long been questioned, dating back to his choice to use Nestor Cortes in last year’s World Series Game 1, which resulted in Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam on the first pitch.
Tuesday night’s call to Weaver reignited that scrutiny. Boone said he felt confident giving Fried one more batter and then going to Weaver, but admitted Rafaela’s walk was the turning point.
“I felt good about him going through there: Sogard and then probably a pinch-hit lefty,” Boone explained. “They played a couple hits on him where [he left the pitch] maybe just a little up.”
Boone’s bullpen ranked 23rd in ERA during the regular season, and that vulnerability reappeared at the worst possible time.
Questioned Lineup Decisions
Boone also drew pregame criticism for benching three left-handed hitters — Ben Rice, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Ryan McMahon — against Red Sox lefty Garrett Crochet. The move backfired, as Crochet retired 17 straight batters after giving up Volpe’s homer.
What’s Next for the Yankees
With the best-of-three series format, the Yankees now face elimination in Game 2. Boone’s margin for error has vanished, and his bullpen choices will once again be under heavy scrutiny.
The Yankees’ path forward is simple: win, or go home.
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