The New York Yankees opened their 2026 American League Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox with a statement performance, cruising to a 9-0 victory in Game 1 on September 29 at Yankee Stadium.
With Yankees captain Aaron Judge unavailable because of a calf injury, New York needed other players to step forward. Ben Rice delivered in a huge way, going 4-for-5 with two home runs, including a grand slam, and driving in six of New York’s nine runs.
Schlittler Shuts Down Boston
The other major story was rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler, who continued his impressive postseason success against Boston.
Schlittler struck out 10 Red Sox hitters over 6⅓ innings, allowing only two hits and one walk. His performance gave New York a dominant pitching foundation and kept Boston’s offense from generating any momentum.
The Yankees’ pitching was especially important because Boston entered the series with plenty of offensive firepower. Instead, Schlittler repeatedly won key at-bats and kept the Red Sox off the scoreboard.
Rice Provides the Power
Rice was the offensive star of the night.
His two-homer performance included a late grand slam that effectively put the game out of reach. His six RBIs accounted for two-thirds of New York’s nine runs.
Rice’s performance was even more notable because he was one of two Massachusetts-born Yankees playing against his home-state team.
Yankees Offense Keeps Rolling
New York didn’t rely solely on the long ball. The Yankees consistently created pressure throughout the game, putting runners on base and taking advantage of opportunities.
Without Judge in the lineup, the Yankees received major contributions from Rice and the rest of the offense, showing that the lineup could still generate a big inning against Boston’s pitching.
Boston Left Searching for Answers
For the Red Sox, the 9-0 loss put them immediately on the brink of elimination in the best-of-three series.
Boston’s offense couldn’t solve Schlittler, while the Yankees’ pitching and defense prevented the Red Sox from establishing any rhythm.
The loss also meant Boston would need to win Game 2 to keep its postseason alive.
The Bottom Line
Game 1 couldn’t have gone much better for New York.
Cam Schlittler dominated on the mound, Ben Rice supplied the power, and the Yankees’ offense turned the game into a rout. The 9-0 victory gave New York an early series advantage and put Boston in a must-win situation.
The Yankees ultimately completed the sweep with a 9-2 victory in Game 2, advancing to the AL Division Series against Tampa Bay.
Final: Yankees 9, Red Sox 0
Player of the Game: Ben Rice — 4-for-5, 2 HR, 6 RBI
Pitching Star: Cam Schlittler — 6⅓ IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 10 K
