NEW YORK – Jazz Chisholm Jr. hasn't hidden his grievances after he competed in the American League Wildcard Series Opening Tuesday night, and his locker turned to garbage when the question was raised. The Yankees' Spark Disk found what he wanted – and then showed exactly what they were missing.
Chisholm saved the run with a great defense and sprinted around Austin Wells’ champion’s popular base as the defending champions refused to let their season quietly end, beating the Red Sox 4-3 in Game 2 at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.
“We always put everything in the game, especially in the playoffs,” Chisholm said. “You don't want to have any space or give another team an edge. Obviously, I think it's a must-win.”
With Chisholm's full sale, Wells switched Garrett Whitlock to the right field and the ball landed online. Chisholm charged at full speed, lost his helmet near third base and defeated receiver Carlos Narváez with an overhead slide. From the first to home, he was clocked in 9.16 seconds.
“I feel like I've had a nice swing on one of his best courts,” Wells said. “With him at first, I kind of wished he could steal or do something. When it landed, I was just waiting to turn and see him score.”
Chisholm's athletic ability also varies in this field. He teamed up with shortstop Anthony Volpe to redirect a beautiful double in the third inning and then saved two runs in the seventh to knock down Masataka Yoshida’s single, which gave Fernando Cruz another chance.
“I want to make sure it mentions: Jazz has completely saved our game for us,” Cruz said.
“What are you expecting? This guy is a game changer,” Captain Aaron added. “It just shows you mature, to take what happened the day before and bring it into today's game. He's ready to play today and end up with the biggest game all night.”
So how could Chisholm shrugg and he was disappointed to leave the Bronx Tuesday night?
“I went to the MLB show and I had pity for someone. That's how I stressed,” Chisholm said with a smile. “Yes.”
Ben Rice also watched the first game from the bench, seizing his first playoff chance, beating two seasons of home runs in the first inning, which sparked the crowd and predicted a brief outing for Boston starter Brayan Bello.
“Being able to set the tone for us early in the first inning and lead the way, I knew I could be fired,” Rice said.
The advantage disappeared when Carlos Rodón surrendered to Trevor's story's two-run single in the third, but New York resumed its fifth lead. Trent Grisham left, on the wild court, and the ball dropped the score when the judge lifted the fly and drove left to that Jarren Duran charge and sneaked in but couldn't train.
The story goes back to the sixth time, hitting the 2-0 Rod fastball in the left center field seat. Yankees manager Aaron Boone visited his starter one night after criticizing Max Fried's seventh inning hook, after heading to Alex Bregman's quadpod, looking at the buzzing bullpen.
“I was like, 'Okay, this is my shot. I have to be very important to it.' “So I said, 'I'm staying in it. '”
Boone convinced. So Roden stabilizes himself, escaping a pop-up and two-player ground. On the seventh time, when Roden allowed for a walk, wild courts and batsmen, there was more trouble, but Cruz put out the fire.
Cruz pointed out to the sky after causing an ending story that released Chisholm's roar compared to Simba of The Lion King. Rice said as he watched Cruz walk down the field, “he could see every vein popping out of his head.”
“It's time to play now. It's time to pursue it,” Cruz said. “I'm just going to play. I grabbed that white thing and go-you and me.”
Devin Williams and David Bednar drove the Yankees in the last two frames – the 94 regular season champion, now in one game in October – with a chance to correct their recent playoff history against Boston.
The Red Sox have dominated since Boone won the championship home run in 2003 – 2004 ALCS, '18 ALDS and '21 Wild Card games. The Yankees think this time might be different.
“It’s a victory or a home,” Chisolm said. “It’s all about winning.”