Yankees dominate Red Sox 9-0 as Schlittler and Rice shine in playoff debut

The New York Yankees opened their Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox with a 9-0 victory, highlighted by Cam Schlittler’s six-plus inning start in which he struck out ten and yielded only two hits. Ben Rice, a former Massachusetts Red Sox fan, torched the opposition with a grand slam, a second home run, a double and four total hits, accounting for six RBIs. Austin Wells drove in two runs, and 21-year-old rookie George Lombard Jr. recorded three hits in his first postseason appearance.

The win came despite the absence of star outfielder Aaron Judge, who is sidelined with a calf injury. Both Schlittler and Rice grew up as Red Sox supporters before being drafted by the Yankees, adding a personal edge to the rout.