NewzNEW YORK (AP) — With the Boston bats ice cold at Yankee Stadium again, a couple of quick hooks by Red Sox rookie manager Chad Tracy led to another early postseason exit.And top starter Sonny Gray wasn't happy about being lifted after only 70 pitches.“I think I’m the best pitcher in the American League going through the order the third time. “I would have liked to have been trusted in that moment.”For the second consecutive season, the Red Sox were sent home for the winter by their biggest rivals as the New York Yankees rolled to a 9-2 victory Wednesday night and a two-game sweep of their Wild Card Series.Boston was outscored 18-2 overall and left to lament a miserable finish to this roller-coaster ride of a season that included Tracy taking over when Alex Cora was fired in April.Tracy's decision-making came under scrutiny after both playoff games against the Yankees. In Boston's 9-0 defeat a night earlier, Tracy pulled rookie starter Payton Tolle after 4 2/3 innings and 83 pitches in a 1-0 game.Last year, the Red Sox won their Wild Card Series opener before losing to New York in a deciding Game 3 as they got overpowered by Cam Schlittler, who pitched another playoff gem against his hometown team Tuesday night.“To have it end here two times in a row is tough,” shortstop Trevor Story said.Facing a Yankees lineup missing injured slugger Aaron Judge, the Red Sox gave up 26 hits in two games despite a pair of effective performances from their starting pitchers.At the plate, Boston mustered only seven hits and finally snapped a 26-inning postseason scoring drought that dated to last year when Willson Contreras homered just over the right-center fence in the sixth Wednesday.“It’s obviously been an eventful year," Tracy said.
"In the moment right now you can’t think much more other than anything but the fact that we just lost a playoff series.”Needing a victory to extend their season, the Red Sox sent Gray to the mound and the 18-game winner certainly gave them a chance. Boston trailed 1-0 in the fifth when the right-hander allowed a two-out single to Ben Rice that put runners at the corners.Tracy then yanked Gray, eager to hand the ball to baseball's best bullpen during the regular season.“I felt good. I felt like I was just out there competing.
And yeah, I mean, I got clipped for a solo home… And this time, it wasn't even close.For the second consecutive season, the Red Sox were sent home for the winter by their biggest rivals when the New York Yankees rolled to a 9-2 victory Wednesday night and a two-game sweep of their Wild Card Series.The Red Sox were outscored 18-2 overall and left to lament a miserable finish to this roller-coaster ride of a season.Facing a New York lineup missing injured slugger Aaron Judge, the Red Sox gave up 26 hits despite a pair of effective performances from their starting pitchers.At the plate, Boston mustered only seven hits and finally snapped a 26-inning postseason scoring drought that dated to last year when Willson Contreras homered just over the right-center fence in the sixth Wednesday.Needing a victory to extend their season, the Red Sox sent 18-game winner Sonny Gray to the mound and he certainly gave them a chance. In fact, his .310 batting average against left-handers over the past two years was the best of any left-handed hitter in the majors.Bellinger made Tracy and the Red Sox pay, lining an RBI single to right field.Back from a shoulder injury, ace starter Garrett Crochet entered in the sixth for his first outing since April 25 and first relief appearance since 2023 with the Chicago White Sox.
The left-hander opened with a strikeout, but Spencer Jones reached safely on a wild pitch, and Crochet never got an out.Bellinger's three-run homer of…
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