Yankees Lead AL Wild Card Race Over Red Sox

In the Yankees’ 1-0 win over the Red Sox, Cody Bellinger’s 99.7 mph throw to tag Ceddanne Rafaela at home preserved the lead as Cam Schlittler pitched 5 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts, despite five walks. The defensive highlight helped New York extend its edge in the wild-card race and keep pace with the Rays, while Boston’s baserunning miscues cost them. Bellinger’s season-long defense was highlighted, and the win left the Yankees three games clear of Boston for the top AL wild-card spot ahead of three more meetings with the Red Sox. In a separate game, Bellinger again supplied the clutch with a go-ahead, bases-loaded double in the seventh, powering the Yankees to a 9-3 win over the Astros. The clubs’ seasons remain defined by tight margins in the standings and big moments from Bellinger, with New York aiming to sustain momentum against both rivals and contenders.