The New York Yankees just dumped the Red Sox out of the playoffs with a decisive 9-2 win on Wednesday night in the Bronx, and honestly, the relief in that clubhouse was thick enough to cut with a knife. This wasn’t just another W, this was the culmination of weeks and months of pure grit, pushing through one challenge after another to win the first round of their playoff odyssey.
Champagne Showers and Subdued Celebration
After that 9-2 victory, Yankee Stadium’s clubhouse was a scene. Aaron Judge was holding court, giving earnest answers about his injury progress while his teammates doused him with champagne and beer. Catcher Austin Wells, third baseman Ryan McMahon, and outfielder Trent Grisham were off to the side, feet swimming in a puddle of unidentified brown alcohol, snapping a selfie. And then there was infielder Jose Caballero, lurking with a primed Budweiser bottle, thumb ready to unleash a spray on some poor, unsuspecting teammate. Even the white plastic sheet meant to protect the lockers from the suds started falling off, only to be drilled back up with a sound like backyard fireworks. It was pushing midnight, and for the Yankees, this was actually a pretty subdued celebration. But that relief? It was palpable. You could feel how hard this team worked to get here.
The ‘No-Quit Attitude’ That Defines Them
This wasn’t some easy stroll to the AL Division Series. The Yankees were the most battle-tested team in the American League this year, and that’s not just hype. Think about it: they had to win without Judge as early as May. Giancarlo Stanton missed nearly the entire season with calf strains. Cody Bellinger was out for a month with a hamstring strain later in the summer. Left-handed starters Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, and Ryan Weathers, plus infielder Jazz Chisholm, Grisham, Wells, and McMahon, all spent time on the injured list. That’s enough injuries to flat-out break most teams. But every single time, these guys rose above it. Judge put it perfectly, telling me recently, “We’re never out of any ballgame. We were missing Stanton, missing Belli for a while, missing me, kind of the heart of the order. We played in certain games where we were down a couple runs, the team rallied, and suddenly we’re up, right back in the game. Just the no-quit attitude, that was the coolest thing I saw this season. That’s postseason baseball, and we’ve been doing it all year.” You see that spirit, and you know what they bring to the table.
Now, the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays, who were the best team in the AL this year, are waiting for them on Saturday. They might be the best, but the Yankees have proven they’re tough as nails. Get ready for a showdown.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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