In fact neither the Yankees nor the Pink Sox are in first place as they start a four-game collection on Thursday evening on the Stadium. One way or the other this nonetheless appears like the start of an abbreviated Yankee-Pink Sox summer time over the following couple of weeks, right here after which at Fenway Park, even when the stakes may simply be a wild card this time. These video games matter. They at all times do. Just a few greater than others. Like these.
If the Yankees or the Sox — or each — are going to be critical groups in October after theme-park-ride seasons for each of them, they should begin displaying that now, and in opposition to one another.
They gave the impression to be going in several instructions the final time they met at Fenway two months in the past. The Yankees got here into that one at 42-26, almost as many video games over .500 as they’ve been all season. The Pink Sox had been 10 video games behind within the loss column, at 35-36. However then the Pink Sox swept them. And appeared to have turned two seasons round within the second.
The Yankees, regardless of the way in which they’ve gotten themselves rotated over the past week in opposition to a schedule softer than mushy ice cream, have been 26-31 for the reason that begin of that collection in opposition to the Pink Sox in June. The Sox — who’ve stumbled over the previous week on the similar time the Yankees have began profitable — not solely caught the Yankees ultimately, they handed them within the wild card race till the previous few days.
Whereas the Yankees had been mashing 9 house runs in opposition to the Rays on Tuesday evening at Steinbrenner Discipline, the Pink Sox had been leaving the bases loaded three straight instances within the late innings with out scoring a run in opposition to the last-place Orioles earlier than lastly shedding, 4-3. That one mainly ended when Nate Eaton didn’t attempt to rating from third within the backside of the tenth on a one-out fly ball to Colton Cowser, proper earlier than Cowser unleashed a throw towards the infield that appeared headed for Jersey St.
So now the Yankees are again forward of the Pink Sox within the standings, and as soon as once more occupied with taking lifeless intention on the Blue Jays. By Tuesday evening, the Yankees had received eight of their final 11. The Pink Sox had misplaced eight of their final 12. Instantly each groups appeared headed in several instructions once more.
Solely now they’re headed for the Stadium, which can be stuffed with actual noise and actual life this weekend for the primary time in months, actually for the reason that Pink Sox knocked the Yankees down — and unexpectedly — the way in which they did in June. And swiftly fan-favorite Aaron Boone seems like he is perhaps some form of baseball prophet for consistently telling the media and that fan base that “It’s right in front of us.”
In Tampa the opposite evening Boone appeared stunned when instructed that his crew had hit 9 house runs in a sport for the second time this season.
“We hit nine?” he mentioned at first.
Then this: “Wow.”
Lastly this: “There were some ones that were really hit, too.”
They certain had been, beginning with back-to-back-to-back homers from Aaron Choose (No. 40) and Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton, who was again within the outfield in opposition to the Rays, although it at all times stays to be seen how protected that basically is for him on the market. However as at all times, throughout all of the seasons when Brian Cashman has constructed his crew round house runs, the Yankees seem like world beaters — and World Sequence right here they arrive! — when ball are flying out of the park like this. Till they cease flying out of ballparks sooner or later, and the Yankees aren’t world beaters. Once more.
The Yankees are hitting once more at the very same time the Pink Sox have stopped. Alex Cora’s crew was making its personal run on the Blue Jays, as scorching because the Blue Jays have been for some time. Solely now they’ve been handed by the Yankees. They did tie the Orioles within the backside of the ninth on Tuesday when Nathaniel Lowe, somebody they only picked up from the Nationals, hit a two-run homer. After that? They loaded the bases yet one more time earlier than Trevor Story grounded right into a fielder’s alternative.
Similar to that, the Sox had been tied with the Mariners for one of many final two wild card spots within the American League, and simply two video games within the loss column forward of the Royals and the Guardians, with the dash that’s the remainder of the common season specified by entrance of all people.
Dangerous time for the Sox to enter stoop, particularly 4 on the Stadium in opposition to the Yankees. Glorious time for the Yankees to start out trying just like the crew they had been into June, even with the schedule over simply the previous 10 days — Twins, Cardinals, Rays — having turned out to be this a lot of a blessing.
When the Yankees are hitting house runs, you understand how it goes round right here, folks have them midway to the Canyon of Heroes. However there are nonetheless points, beginning with the situation of Aaron Choose’s proper elbow. You surprise simply how a lot outfield Stanton can play as he generally strikes round on the market as if underwater. And it’s beginning to be greater than a light concern that their $218 million ace, Max Fried, hasn’t a lot regarded like an ace for fairly a while.
Nonetheless: They’re scorching. The Pink Sox will not be. The Yankees regarded like they had been rolling the final time the 2 groups met. Then they weren’t. They’ve gathered themselves recently in opposition to three shedding groups in a row. Now right here come the Pink Sox. In the event that they’re going to make an actual assertion, this weekend can be a great time to do it. It’s proper in entrance of them. Proper?
Initially Printed: August 20, 2025 at 9:10 AM EDT
