Good morning, New York: The Yankees routed the Red Sox last night to take one more step toward #28, while the Liberty made playoff history in Brooklyn—and the Rangers’ new era began with a quick reality check in Boston.
SOX SHUTDOWN
“It was a special night in the Bronx tonight,” Aaron Boone said after the Yankees, playing without Aaron Judge, blanked Boston, 9–0—their largest postseason shutout win since 1960—to move within one win of the ALDS.
Curve control: Cam Schlittler struck out 10 and allowed two hits and one walk over 6⅓ scoreless innings. He threw a career-high 29 curveballs and became the sixth pitcher with multiple postseason games of 10-plus strikeouts and two or fewer hits allowed.
Big Ben’s bombs: Ben Rice went 4-for-5 with two homers, including an eighth-inning grand slam and six RBIs. He drove in a run in an earlier bases-loaded at-bat before breaking the game open late.
Closeout chance: Max Fried faces Sonny Gray tonight as the Bronx Bombers try to finish the Wild Card sweep and clinch an ALDS trip to Tampa Bay.
EIGHT IS ENOUGH
Led by 2024 Finals MVP Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu, the Liberty sent the WNBA’s top seed packing, wire-to-wire—beating the Minnesota Lynx, 87–71, in Brooklyn to become the first No. 8 seed to knock out a No. 1 in the current playoff format.
Jones and Stewie shine: Jones and Breanna Stewart scored 21 apiece, with Jones grabbing 13 rebounds and Stewart dishing four assists while adding two steals and two blocks.
Sabrina serves: Ionescu scored 18 and handed out seven assists, saying afterward: “Our best basketball is yet to come.” The Liberty open the semifinals Sunday against either Atlanta or Washington.
75-SECOND SWING
The Rangers played 56 minutes of shutout hockey in their season opener before Boston broke through with 3:46 left. The Bruins scored again 75 seconds later, added an empty-netter and won 3–0 as TD Garden fans chanted, “Yankees suck.” The Blueshirts will host Tampa Bay in Thursday’s home opener, still seeking their first goal.
Back in Boston: Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan became the 33rd NHL coach—and third American-born coach—to reach 1,000 games, doing it against his hometown team and the franchise where he launched his head-coaching career.
Loose with it: The Rangers matched Boston shot-for-shot, 24–23, and split the faceoff battle, but they committed 20 giveaways to the Bruins’ 10—including the turnover that led to Minten’s late game-winner.
ON THIS DAY
RUTH’S 60: On Sept. 30, 1927, Babe Ruth broke his own single-season record with his 60th homer, setting a standard that stood for 34 years.
WHAT TO WATCH
Red Sox at Yankees, Game 2: Tonight, 8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock.
Islanders at Maple Leafs: 7:30 p.m. ET, MSGSN; stream on DAZN.