Ben Rice starred with the bat, launching two home runs, including a grand slam, while right-hander Cam Schlittler delivered a masterful pitching performance.
Schlittler baffled the Red Sox hitters, allowing just two hits and striking out 10 over 6 1/3 scoreless innings. He threw a career-high 117 pitches in a dominant outing that set the tone for the shutout.
Rice homered in the fifth inning, drove in another run with a single in the seventh and capped his night with a bases-loaded home run in the eighth. Austin Wells contributed two RBIs, while Luis Garcia added another run via a double-play groundout.
The Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the best-of series despite the absence of star slugger Aaron Judge, who is sidelined with a calf strain. The winner will advance to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the next round.
“Just thrilled it left the yard to get four runs,” Rice said of his grand slam. “This is what you dream about, Yankees-Red Sox playoff game in New York.”
The emphatic result gives the Yankees early control of the heated rivalry series as they look to progress deeper into the postseason.