Video summary
Aaron Boone reflects on a hard-fought victory against the Red Sox, highlighting the critical contributions of Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger in securing a 1-0 win. Although the pitching staff, led by Scherzer, walked five batters due to some lapses in zone control, the team's defense ultimately carried the game. Goldschmidt provided the decisive blow with a home run after sitting out for several weeks against left-handed pitchers, proving his value as a professional who is always ready when called upon. His performance was particularly notable given the recent challenges posed by right-handed hitters and the emergence of Luis Castillo, yet he stepped up to deliver exactly what the team needed in this crucial matchup.
The defensive prowess of Cody Bellinger was another standout element of the night, featuring one of the best plays of the year where he made a difficult throw to secure an out with bases loaded. Bellinger's aggressive baserunning and ability to handle momentum allowed him to get behind the ball effectively before executing a low, accurate throw that impressed Boone, who noted improvement over a previous attempt by his teammate. This defensive excellence was complemented by strong receiving plays from other fielders like Wells and Ramos, creating a chain of events that preserved the narrow lead. The importance of these individual efforts was magnified by the looming double-header, where every out counts significantly in extending leads or preventing opponents from gaining ground.
Boone also addressed the broader context of the rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox, emphasizing that while these games always feel bigger due to their historical significance, the stakes are particularly high as the season winds down in the AL East. He compared tonight's defensive stand to a similar pivotal moment against the Mets last year, noting how such plays can turn around a struggling team, though he remains humble about attributing success solely to specific moments rather than overall team resilience. The manager expressed satisfaction with the atmosphere and the critical nature of these games, acknowledging that while the Yankees are used to playing in tight contests, being on the right side of close calls is always preferable.
Finally, Boone touched upon the strategic decisions regarding his roster, including the choice to start Rodón for the upcoming double-header and the decision to keep Goldschmidt out of the lineup recently due to matchup challenges rather than a lack of readiness. He praised Goldschmidt's character as a humble leader who understands his role within the group he has grown close with over time. The manager also commended other players like Scherzer for their continued improvement and mastery of their arsenal, describing him as one of the great pitchers in the league. Overall, Boone viewed the win not just as a result of individual brilliance but as a testament to the team's ability to handle pressure and execute when it matters most in important games.
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Aaron, in an intense game, you have the
Schlitter pitching, you have the Gold
Schmidt power and and defense. How do
you look at a win like this?
>> Uh
I mean, a great win. You know, a great
win. Um
>> [snorts]
>> you know, Cam, you know, obviously
[clears throat]
well, ends up walking with five, but
was stuff was really good. You know,
just had a couple pockets where, you
know, kind of lost the zone a little bit
um for the walks, but otherwise was
excellent and you know, to
>> [cough]
>> hold the line there,
>> [snorts]
>> you know, two outs into the sixth, and
then the bullpen comes in and does their
does their thing um with some really
good obviously some big defensive plays
behind them.
Goldy, I mean,
I think that's that's tied with Johnny
Bench, so that was that was cool. And a
no-doubter. Um he stepped on that ball
and then Belly, you know, with one of
the defensive plays of the year there,
so
uh yeah, I mean, great win. One nothing,
you know, wish
had a couple opportunities there where I
wish we could have pushed the lead a
little bit more, but um you know,
that being said, we're used to playing
in these games and and there's some
comfort in that.
>> How impressive a play is that from
Bellinger and then Wells on the other
end in the seventh inning?
>> Yeah, I mean, it was great. Um and if
you watch Belly just just do a really
good job of creeping to it. You know,
they're aggressive on the bases, you
know, they got real speed with Rafael
there at third. And he just did a really
good job of like under control getting
behind that ball with momentum. Ripped a
good low throw. He was upset with
himself, you know, a few days ago that
he didn't make a great throw and um
when he came in, I said, "That was
better." And he was like, "That was a
good one." So,
and then Wellsie on the on the receiving
end um you know, make leaving no doubt
with it. So, great play, obviously, you
know, the defensive play of the game
there um
in and around some other really good
ones.
>> What has Paul Goldschmidt meant to this
team?
>> Yeah, I mean, you know, he's been huge.
Um
you know,
has been sitting over there now for a
few weeks without any run with with no
lefties that we faced. Um he's just a
pro pro every day. And uh just what the
doctor ordered today. I mean, that's
what you know, we've seen him do all
year. Um you know,
against [clears throat] these lefties
that he's just put really good at bats.
I thought he had a couple I thought
leading off the game he had a good at
bat where he
hit it sharp, but just got it on the
ground. Even even the his last at bat
where he against Sandoval where he ends
up punching out, you know, I felt like
you know, he had a beat on him. So,
um and then some obviously some good
plays over there at first.
>> Your two 1-0 wins this year were started
by Flaherty and Goldschmidt gave you the
lone run with a home run. What do you
make of that?
>> That's a good little tidbit. We got the
the kid and the future Hall of Famer
bookending things. I love it.
>> Brian and Gary and Zack.
>> Uh Cam reached 200 strikeouts tonight,
and I'm sure that's not a surprise to
you, but what does it say about him that
he reached it at this part of his career
and he's so young still?
>> Yeah, just a testament to how good he's
gotten um
and continued to to improve, you know,
exponentially since we signed him.
You know, rifling through the minor
leagues and and I just feel like over
the last 2 years has just steadily
gotten better and better. And now just
has a really good grip on his on his
arsenal and and obviously pitching like
one of the great pitchers in the league.
>> Cody's been a good defender in the past
and throughout his career, but he's
taken his game to another level
defensively this season. Just in your
view, what's [clears throat] allowed him
to do that?
>> Um
I don't know. I thought I thought he was
this last year. So, I mean, he's just a
tremendous athlete.
Um
>> [snorts]
>> you know, I I think just really good on
his feet, really good off balance,
really good when he gets his hands on
it, a really good and smart and accurate
thrower.
Um it's just a
I think it's just the look at a really
good athlete that's gotten really good
at playing the corner.
>> Right behind you here.
Uh I apologize if you asked answered
this pregame. Was it you know
>> No problem.
>> Was it no doubt for you that you were
going to start Goldschmidt
tonight or you know, against the lefty?
Okay.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah.
>> Brendan to the right.
>> You you called this a great win. How
much of that is the the actual game, but
also the context of where you guys are
and the Red Sox are in the AL East?
>> Uh I mean, I think that plays into it,
sure.
Um
you know, these are these are important
games in that context. Um just a
tremendous atmosphere out there tonight
and just, you know, so many,
you know, critical moments in the game
that could have tipped it either way.
So, um
glad [clears throat] we were on the good
side of it this time.
Um
but I I I think Look, anytime Red Sox
and Yankees get together, you know, it's
important and
you know, it always feels a little
bigger. Um but in the context of what
we're getting down to it, you know, at
this point in the season,
um
you know, those ones feel good.
>> That play that Cody made last year
against the Mets.
Just how do you how does tonight compare
to that, do you think?
>> Yeah, you know, the Mets one was when we
were kind of reeling in a little bit and
it felt like, you know, that kind of
moment in time that kind of helped turn
us around a little bit and got us going.
Did Was it the play? I mean, who knows?
I'd like to think we would have turned
it around anyway, but we were scuffling
and to salvage a game on that Sunday
um
with just a tremendous play to
to preserve it. Um you know
it made me think of that a little bit.
>> Greg and Randy.
>> The uh the double play to end the fifth
to be able to send Schlitter back out in
the sixth to get two more outs with a
double header tomorrow. Just how
important was that even if it's just a
couple more outs?
>> Yeah.
Uh
really important. Um
I mean it it it's it's just a great
peak. Tonight's a great peak at
um especially where you got a double
header lurking. It's just like
everything matters. Every little you
know and like a little
you know a guy getting on in a situation
and extending an inning to like all
those things add up and they affect
today, they affect tomorrow, they affect
next Tuesday like in in a weird way, you
know, so everything matters uh in these
games.
Um
you know, sometimes when you're able to
extend leads so you're staying away from
somebody if you get another out you know
it it all matters.
>> Randy.
>> You mentioned Goldschmidt sitting there.
I think since August 2nd coming in he
had 15 plate appearances this month or
since August 2nd.
How difficult is it for a guy that is
used to playing every day for a long
long time to transition to this role and
what have you noticed watching him
prepare to be ready for moments when you
throw him in from not playing for a
week?
>> Yeah, I mean he's just
you know, as good a person as I've
managed, you know, I I've got a handful
of those guys in there and he's he's
certainly one of them, you know, he he
wanted to come back here um to be a part
of this group that he grew close with.
Um
you know, again he's just such a
humble
good leader
um
and and just prepares. He's ready for
anything. Um and you know, understands
the role understands there's times and
there's times this year where I couldn't
get him out of the lineup just because
of where we were. Um now it's been
[clears throat] a you know, lately been
a challenge with with all the righties
and obviously Luis coming into the mix.
So, he's just been ready, a pro and
>> [snorts]
>> and he delivered in a big way tonight.
>> And did you like the play that Lombard
made there? Not not an easy play and
it's one of those plays where you don't
really have time to think and
>> It's a great play. Um yeah, I mean and
and that was
you know, that with the belly, with you
know, the double play, just you know, I
thought Ramos getting a good jump on the
ball to right center on Monasterio where
we had the bases loaded out, you know,
just just good stuff tonight. Um
you know, to allow you to win a
one-nothing game.
>> Emmanuel, you mentioned the Ramos play
and the great jump. Had you considered
any earlier going to Jones for defense?
Ramos obviously rewarding you there.
>> No. No, not with
you know
the makeup of their bullpen. I I didn't
want to just automatically
um
you know, give them a lefty shot. I
wanted to have Spencer there in a good
matchup if I could. So, I knew that was
coming back around, but no. Um I was
going to wait till that that spot
cleared.
>> Brendan.
>> I don't remember if you said that you
would uh
discuss this after the game or not, but
do you guys have whether it's going to
be Fried game one or game two tomorrow?
>> Rodón will be game one.