It’s Game 1 of the Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium, and we already have a defining moment — one that might live on in the minds of Yankees fans for a long time, depending on how this series shakes out. Let’s set the stage.
Boone Pulls Fried in a Head-Scratcher
The Yankees have Max Fried dealing. He’s not just pitching well — he’s dominating. One out in the seventh, 102 pitches deep, and he’s just made Jarren Duran look silly on a strikeout. No one’s on base. The bottom of the Red Sox lineup is due. And yet — here comes Aaron Boone striding out of the dugout.
He’s pulling his ace. In favor of Luke Weaver.
This wasn’t about analytics. This was about over-managing in October — the kind of decision that makes your fanbase lose sleep and your critics say, “See? Same old Boone.”
Fried had gone over 102 pitches eight times this season. And he wasn’t showing signs of collapse. But Boone’s instincts — or his game plan — said it was time. So he brings in Weaver to face Ceddanne Rafaela, a right-handed batter with a reverse split — meaning he actually hits worse against lefties. Against Fried? Nothing doing. Against Weaver? Two bombs in six at-bats.
Red Sox Capitalize on Yankees Missed Cue
And it got worse. Weaver walked Rafaela — who almost never walks. Then Nick Sogard dumps a hit into right-center and, knowing Aaron Judge’s arm is still compromised from an earlier elbow injury and never stops running. Turns a single into a double. That’s pre-scout gold from the Red Sox staff, and you better believe Cora had that moment mapped out.
Masataka Yoshida pinch-hits for Rob Refsnyder. Boone, handcuffed by the three-batter rule, can’t make a move. Weaver has to stay in. First pitch? Boom. Two-run single. Ballgame.
Cora Goes Old School — and It Works
Cora, meanwhile, is living in a different universe. He lets Garrett Crochet go 117 pitches — more than any starter in the past six postseasons. Then he hands the ball directly to his closer, Aroldis Chapman. Old-school and it worked.
After the game, Boone tried to explain it away with lines like “they pressured him pretty good” and “gave us what we needed.” But that doesn’t cut it. This is October. You don’t pull your ace mid-dominance unless he’s out of gas — and Fried wasn’t. This was managerial overthinking at its finest, and it cost the Yankees Game 1.
Sometimes, you dance with the one who brought you. Boone left the dance early. Cora stayed on the floor — and walked out with the win.
