The Boston Red Sox maintained their lead with a momentum-shifting defensive play in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s American League Wild Card Game against the New York Yankees.
Yankees star Aaron Judge was waved around from first base on a hit off the Green Monster by Giancarlo Stanton. Red Sox center fielder Kiké Hernández played it perfectly, backing up left fielder Alex Verdugo and quickly hitting cut-off man Xander Bogaerts.
Bogaerts, who hit a home run in the first inning, turned to fire it home where his throw beat a sliding Judge at the plate as catcher Kevin Plawecki put on the tag. No chance.
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It was perfectly-played defense by all involved and also a very questionable decision by the Yankees. Had New York not sent Judge home, the Yankees likely would have had runners on second and third with one out while trailing 3-1.
Boston added another run in the bottom of the sixth to extend its lead to 4-1.
The Red Sox, of note, led Major League Baseball with 43 outfield assists during the regular season.
