New York Yankees vs Boston Red Sox

The game was scoreless through two frames before Goldschmidt stepped in as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the third. Batting first for the first time since 8 August — a response to the Yankees facing a left-handed starter (Patrick Sandoval) after a three-week absence against southpaws — Goldschmidt crushed a 1-0 pitch to dead centre.

Sandoval (1-3) was otherwise sharp: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, limiting the Yankees to just two other hits — a Ben Rice double in the first and nothing else of consequence. But that single swing was all Schlittler and the Yankees bullpen needed.

Schlittler (12-6), the Massachusetts-born right-hander who has now dominated his hometown team over five career starts (including postseason), worked 5.2 innings of two-hit ball. He struck out eight but walked a career-high-tying five, needing 102 pitches to navigate a Red Sox lineup that put runners on base in every inning from the second through the sixth.

The game's decisive moment came in the top of the seventh. After Schlittler departed with two outs in the sixth and reliever Brent Headrick loaded the bases, Paul Blackburn inherited a jam. Ceddanne Rafaela singled and Wilyer Abreu doubled on the first two pitches Blackburn threw, putting runners at second and third with one out.

Willson Contreras lifted a fly ball to left field. Bellinger, a former Gold Glove centre fielder, uncorked a 99.7 mph throw to catcher Austin Wells that cut down Rafaela at the plate by several feet, preserving the 1-0 lead.

Blackburn worked a 1-2-3 eighth, and David Bednar closed a perfect ninth for his 31st save.

The Red Sox also hurt themselves in the fifth. With Anthony Seigler on first and one out, Rafaela singled. On Wilyer Abreu's lineout to centre fielder Trent Grisham, Rafaela strayed too far off first and was doubled off — ending the inning with cleanup hitter Willson Contreras on deck.

Boston went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 runners overall.

Cam Schlittler (NYY) — W (12-6), 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 5 BB, 8 K, 102 pitches. The AL ERA leader (2.09) surpassed 200 strikeouts for the season and lowered his career mark against the Red Sox to a 0.56 ERA across 32.1 innings (five starts, including postseason). Player of the Match.

Paul Goldschmidt (NYY) — 1-for-4, solo HR (17), RBI. His 430-foot homer was the game's only run, launched off a left-handed starter the Yankees had not faced as a primary pitcher since 8 August.

Cody Bellinger (NYY) — Game-saving 99.7 mph throw from left field to cut down Rafaela at the plate in the seventh.

David Bednar (NYY) — SV (31), 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 12 pitches. Perfect ninth.

Wilyer Abreu (BOS) — 2-for-3 with a double, the only Red Sox hitter with multiple hits.

The 1-0 final reflects a game dominated by pitching, not a lack of offence. Combined, the teams left 16 runners on base (BOS 10, NYY 6). Boston's 0-for-7 with RISP tells the real story — they created traffic (five hits, five walks) but could not land the tying hit. The Yankees managed only three hits but made the only one that counted. Schlittler's five walks were a career high, but his 8 strikeouts — including whiffs of Rutschman (twice), Contreras (twice), Rafaela (twice) and Sogard — killed Boston's rallies before they could cash in.

The Yankees improved to 76-58, remaining four games behind first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East but extending their lead over Boston (73-61) to three games in the race for the top American League wild card. A potential first-round playoff matchup between these rivals — a repeat of 2025's Division Series, where Schlittler threw a Game 3 gem as a rookie — would grant home-field advantage to the higher seed.

The teams play a day-night doubleheader on Saturday to make up a 6 June rainout. Max Fried (4-4, 2.81 ERA) comes off the injured list to start the early game for the Yankees; Carlos Rodón (4-2, 3.15) starts the nightcap. Rookie left-hander Jake Bennett (8-6, 3.49) starts the opener for Boston; their Game 2 starter has not been announced.

A taut, playoff-calibre pitchers' duel decided by one swing and one throw. Schlittler continued his stranglehold on the Red Sox, and Goldschmidt's veteran presence at the top of the order paid off against a lefty the Yankees had not seen in weeks. Boston's inability to score with runners in scoring position — a recurring issue — cost them a game they had chances to win.