BOSTON – After Wednesday night’s third inning, the Yankees had exactly two baserunners and one hit – an infield single.
That’s not usually a winning formula at Fenway Park, where the phrase “no lead is safe’’ has echoed since the Live Ball Era began.
But these Red Sox are having a tough time of it, in this chilly, early New England spring. And these Yankees have already shown a resilient spirit.
Plus, a whole lot of good starting pitching – with more on the way.
Oh, and it’s Cam Schlittler’s turn on Thursday night, with the Boston-area right-hander and burgeoning Yankee star out to complete a three-game sweep of the Olde Towne Team.
Wednesday night saw Max Fried provide “exactly what we need,’’ said the Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton, by tossing eight shutout innings in a 4-1 victory.
It was the Yanks’ fifth straight win and nearly their third straight shutout victory.
And all four Yankee runs were driven in by Amed Rosario, the kind of part-time player and clubhouse presence that seems essential to a serious pennant contender.
“What he’s become in that room, what he means to his teammates – he’s one of the guys we wanted to make sure we brought back,’’ manager Aaron Boone said of Rosario, a second-half 2025 addition via trade, in his free agent walk year.
On Wednesday night, the Yanks got the best of that third base platoon.
After the righty-hitting Rosario blasted a first-inning, three-run homer and lifted a sac fly in his only two plate appearances, against lefty starter Ranger Suarez…
…Ryan McMahon entered for defense and made two hit-saving plays, enabling Fried to retire the last 14 Red Sox he faced.
Fried’s moment of truth came in the second inning, stranding runners at second and third with none out by striking out the bottom of Boston’s order in succession.
And that success pitching from the stretch led Fried to abandon his windup completely Wednesday, in favor of better command.
“It’s not been one game, it’s been every game this year,’’ said Fried, lamenting too many walks; he walked two in the first two innings and none the rest of the way.
“I felt more like myself tonight,’’ said Fried, giving an assist to pitching coach Matt Blake for breaking through the lefty’s stubbornness.
“It’s not working. When are you going to cut it out?’’ Blake said, via Fried.
Fried finished with nine strikeouts, owing to an effective curveball and changeup – and the fact that Jaren Duran’s two doubles didn’t haunt him.
Duran had two of the Sox’s three hits against Fried.
Rosario’s adjustments started in 2023, seeing a role-playing MLB future and wanting to increase his bat speed and launch angle.