Garrett Crochet retired 17 consecutive batters in a sparkling pitching performance, and pinch-hitter Masataka Yoshida lined a two-run single off reliever Luke Weaver that sent the Boston Red Sox past the New York Yankees 3-1 on Tuesday night in their AL Wild Card Series opener. New York loaded the bases with nobody out in the ninth inning, but All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman worked out of the jam against his former team.
Possible clinches in the AL: The Yankees and Mariners are all but guaranteed a playoff spot, and today's games could remove the "all but" qualifier from that phrase. If the Yankees beat the White Sox, they'll clinch a playoff spot for themselves and also open the door for the Mariners to clinch a spot with a win over the Rockies later in the evening.
And that is: who between Cam Schlittler, a rookie who has dazzled with an electric fastball since taking over for the injured Clarke Schmidt in the rotation in early July, and Luis Gil, the AL Rookie of the Year who features plenty of electricity of his own in his fastball, starts in the third game of whatever playoff series the Yankees find themselves in next week.
1914 - George Davis of the Boston Braves pitched a 7-0 no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies in the second game of a doubleheader. Davis' no-hitter was the first thrown at Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox. 1922 - Baby Doll Jacobson hit three triples to lead the St. Louis Browns to a 16-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers.