Garrett Crochet's playoff debut for Boston was a masterclass in late-inning dominance, finishing with 11 strikeouts, 0 walks, and a 100.2 mph heater that sealed a 2-1 lead over the Yankees. Masataka Yoshida supplied the go-ahead hit on the first postseason pitch he saw, a historic moment that underscored Boston's ability to swing the game in critical moments. Yoshida's plan—reading the reliever's pattern against Nick Sogard and going aggressively early—paid off as Boston seized momentum.

With the Yankees silenced late and Boston one win from the series, the tone shifts in the rivalry. If Yoshida and Crochet stay locked in, Boston's postseason ceiling rises, while New York must regroup after a bases-loaded failure in the ninth. The opener sets a high bar for the rest of the series and signals Boston's resilience in clutch spots.