New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried (54) reacts after getting a double play ends the top of the sixth inning against Boston Red Sox during Game 1 of the wild-card round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Yankees slammed for polarizing move in Game 1 loss to Red Sox

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Renzo Pocholo Salao | Last updated Oct 1, 2025 8:01 AM ET

New York Yankees fans were not happy with Aaron Boone for a decision he made Tuesday in his team’s postseason opener.

Yankees ace Max Fried was stellar against the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of their wild-card series in front of a packed crowd at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y. The 31-year-old threw six scoreless innings on 99 pitches.

With the Yankees nursing a 1-0 lead, Boone made the decision to keep the left-handed Fried in the game to start the seventh inning against left-handed hitter Jarren Duran. Fried got Duran to ground out in three pitches.

Boone pulled Fried after his 102nd pitch and inserted reliever Luke Weaver to close the seventh. The move was the beginning of the end for New York, as Weaver immediately gave up a walk and a double to Ceddanne Rafaela and Nick Sogard, respectively. Masataka Yoshida gave Boston a 2-1 lead with a two-RBI single on Weaver’s 10th pitch of the game.

MASATAKA YOSHIDA IT WAS ALWAYS YOU WE ALWAYS BELIEVED!!! pic.twitter.com/v9EsFfBTPi
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) October 1, 2025

The Yankees threatened in the bottom of the ninth inning, loading the bases with nobody out against closer Aroldis Chapman. But the former Yankees closer got three consecutive outs to seal a 3-1 Red Sox victory in Game 1.

Several fans pointed to Boone’s decision to take Fried off the mound as the turning point of the contest. Many felt as though Fried should have been given a chance to at least finish the inning.

Max Fried was dominating. Wasn’t getting touched. Yet was taken out of the game because of a pitch count.

Hindsight is always 20/20 but I just don’t think it was the smart move. He’s your guy. Let him get out of the inning.

Could cost the Yankees their season.
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) October 1, 2025

Fried allowed just four hits and three walks across 6.1 spotless innings for the Yankees. Boone seemed to get deterred by the arbitrary 100-pitch ceiling that has come to mark the end of most pitchers’ outings.

While the limit makes sense to preserve pitchers over a 162-game season, the playoffs should be when those limits may be broken. The Red Sox did just that with starter Garrett Crochet, who allowed one run on 117 pitches.

Boston trusted Crochet to get two outs in the eighth inning despite him entering the frame with 100 pitches. The risk paid off for the Red Sox, who struck first in the series with a Game 1 win.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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