Cody Bellinger, Max Fried Lead Yankees Sweep of Red Sox
Cody Bellinger drove in four and Max Fried threw six strong innings as the Yankees beat Boston 9-2, completed a Wild Card sweep and reached the ALDS.
World Baseball News Editorial Team , 2 min read 
The New York Yankees are heading back to the American League Division Series after Cody Bellinger drove in four runs and Max Fried controlled Boston’s lineup in a 9-2 victory over the Red Sox on Wednesday. The win completed a two-game Wild Card Series sweep at Yankee Stadium and set up an ALDS matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Bellinger supplied the decisive blow during a six-run sixth inning, launching a three-run homer after Boston’s bullpen failed to contain a rally that turned a close game into another Yankees rout.
Fried controls Boston over six innings
Fried set the tone on the mound, allowing one earned run on three hits across six innings. The left-hander struck out six and walked one, keeping the Red Sox scoreless until Willson Contreras homered in the sixth.
Boston starter Sonny Gray matched Fried early, but Luis García Jr. broke the scoreless tie with a solo home run in the fourth. Bellinger added an RBI single in the fifth, giving New York a 2-0 lead before Boston turned to its bullpen.
Gray finished with two runs allowed over 4⅔ innings, striking out five without issuing a walk. His departure changed the game.
Six-run inning ends Boston’s season
Garrett Crochet entered in the sixth but did not record an out. New York collected three consecutive singles against him, while Spencer Jones reached on a wild-pitch strikeout and Trent Grisham beat out a bunt single.
Garrett Whitlock replaced Crochet, but Bellinger greeted him with the swing that effectively ended the series. The three-run homer capped the Yankees’ six-run outburst and pushed the lead beyond Boston’s reach.
Bellinger finished 2-for-5 with four RBIs. García went 3-for-5 with his home run, while Jazz Chisholm Jr. reached three times and scored twice. Austin Wells also drove in two runs.
Contreras and Nick Sogard homered for Boston, but the Red Sox never mounted the sustained rally they needed after losing Game 1 by a 9-0 score.
Yankees advance to face Tampa Bay
New York has now reached the ALDS for a third consecutive season. The Yankees advance with two convincing victories over their longtime rivals, outscoring Boston 18-2 across the series.
The top-seeded Rays will provide the next test. New York enters the Division Series with its lineup producing throughout the order and consecutive dominant starts from Cam Schlittler and Fried.
