Boston Red Sox face elimination against Yankees in deciding Game 3

On October 2, 2025, the Boston Red Sox faced a crucial game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium as part of the American League Wild Card series. Following a nail-biting Game 1 where the Red Sox emerged victorious with a score of 3-1, they lost in Game 2 by a close margin of 4-3. In Game 2, the Yankees displayed resilience by scoring all their runs with two outs and capitalized on the Red Sox's missed opportunities to secure the win. Now, with the series tied at one game each, both teams prepared for a decisive Game 3. The Red Sox had initially taken control in Game 1 thanks to outstanding pitching from Garrett Crochet, who struck out 11 batters over 7.2 innings. The Red Sox offense, led by Masataka Yoshida and Alex Bregman, managed to overcome an early deficit. However, Game 2 showcased a different story. The Yankees, buoyed by an early two-run homer from Ben Rice, maintained their lead throughout much of the game, and despite a valiant effort from the Red Sox, they could not pull ahead. The burden of missed chances weighed heavily on Boston, particularly in the late innings when they failed to capitalize on having runners on base. As they prepared for Game 3, the Red Sox faced additional challenges with a depleted bullpen, relying on rookie Connelly Early to start against the experienced Carlos Rodón of the Yankees. In light of their recent struggles in Game 2, where they could not convert on significant opportunities and allowed the Yankees to dominate with late-game runs, the Red Sox had to refocus and strategize effectively for the ultimate showdown. With the stakes at their highest, both teams were determined to fight for the opportunity to advance in the postseason. The outcome of Game 3 would not only determine which team progressed in the playoffs but also set the tone for each franchise moving forward. The intense rivalry between the Red Sox and Yankees added another layer of drama to this critical matchup, capturing the attention of baseball fans across the country. Each team's performance in this game would be pivotal, not only for the current playoff standings but for their legacies in the storied history of Major League Baseball.