The New York Yankees have punched their ticket to the ALDS, where they’ll face the Toronto Blue Jays — and they did so while knocking the Boston Red Sox out of the playoffs. Despite Boston owning a 9-4 advantage over New York in the regular season, the Yankees flipped the script when it mattered most.
Star outfielder Aaron Judge spoke about finally getting the better of their longtime rivals in October.
“They got the edge on us during the regular season, but we came through when it mattered most,” Judge told Ian O’Connor of The Athletic on October 2.
Here’s a breakdown of Judge’s immediate response to eliminating the Red Sox and the Yankees’ upcoming showdown with Toronto in the ALDS.
Yankees OF Aaron Judge on Being Hit by Pitch vs. Red Sox: ‘You’re Kind of Upset About That’
No Yankees–Red Sox series would be complete without some heated moments, and this matchup was no exception. In the fourth inning, Boston pitcher Justin Slaten plunked Aaron Judge with a fastball. Judge admitted the incident frustrated him, but he dismissed the idea that it was on purpose.
“I don’t believe he was trying to hit me,” Judge told The Athletic. “It was just a pretty bad miss. Still, you’re not thrilled about taking 95 miles an hour off the wrist at any time.”
Aaron Judge on Yankees vs. Blue Jays: ‘It’s Going To Be a Fun Matchup’
With the Red Sox behind them, the Yankees now shift their focus to the Blue Jays. Toronto held the edge in the regular-season series, winning eight of the 13 matchups, but Aaron Judge welcomed the challenge.
“We’re looking forward to Toronto,” Judge said. “It’s going to be a great matchup. They’ve got a strong team over there, and we just want to keep building on what we’ve started.”
Yankees Manager Aaron Boone on SP Cam Schlittler: ‘A Star Is Born’
Rookie pitcher Cam Schlittler delivered a dominant outing in Game 3, striking out 12 Red Sox hitters without issuing a single walk. His performance played a huge role in pushing the Yankees past Boston, and manager Aaron Boone didn’t hold back in praising the young arm.
“A star was born tonight,” Boone told ESPN. “He’s a special kid — fearless, confident, and he lives for these moments.
“…I barely wanted to say anything to him. Usually, if I’m going to talk to a pitcher or think about pulling him, I’ll come down the steps. This time, I just stood there and asked, ‘You good?’ And he was.”
