NEW YORK — September 29, 2026: The New York Yankees opened their American League Wild Card Series with a 9–0 victory over the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, combining Cam Schlittler’s scoreless start with a six-RBI night from designated hitter Ben Rice.
Schlittler worked 6⅓ innings, allowed two hits and struck out 10 on 117 pitches. Relievers Paul Blackburn and John Schreiber completed the shutout, leaving New York one win from advancing in the best-of-three series.
Rice turned a close game into a rout
Rice went 4-for-5. He opened his scoring with a solo home run in the fifth inning, added an RBI single in the seventh and then hit a grand slam in the eighth. The late surge changed the shape of a game that had remained within reach for Boston through the middle innings.
That sequence matters more than the final margin alone. In a short postseason series, the Yankees protected their bullpen while forcing Boston to use several pitchers in a loss. It also gave New York a 1–0 series lead without needing its relief corps to navigate a high-leverage finish.
What the result changes
New York can clinch the series with one more victory. Boston must win the next game to extend its season. The 9–0 score is a completed result, not a live update; player lines and the series position reflect the final box score available after the game.
The matchup followed roster decisions made earlier Tuesday. AskNovus covered the Yankees’ Wild Card roster in this pregame report.
Featured image is an illustrative baseball-stadium photograph and does not depict this game.
Sources and image credit
- New York Post game report, September 29, 2026
- FOX Sports final box score, September 29, 2026
- Photo by Matt Dodd on Unsplash
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