The longtime closer, who previously starred in the Bronx, shut the door in a tenuous ninth inning on Tuesday night, leaving Yankees fans to wonder how they missed a golden opportunity.
Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman delivered a heroic performance on Tuesday night as his team beat the New York Yankees 3-1 in game one of the American League wild card series at Yankee Stadium.
Boston, who finished the regular season with 89 wins, is now just one win away from a return trip to the American League Division Series, where they haven't appeared since 2021.
New York is one loss away from elimination.
Chapman's ninth inning
After he got the final out of the eighth inning in relief of Garrett Crochet, Chapman walked the tightrope in dangerous fashion. Leading 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth, he allowed a single to Paul Goldschmidt before allowing another to Aaron Judge. With two-on and nobody out, he allowed a single to Cody Bellinger.
Giancarlo Stanton stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and nobody out, but Chapman struck him out. Stanton has 453 career home runs and is the active leader in that category.
Then, Chapman got Jazz Chisholm Jr. to fly out to right field. It may have been deep enough to score Goldschmidt, but there was no point in risking the out at home in order to score a meaningless run, and then Chapman struck out Trent Grisham to wriggle off the hook and end the game.
Historic context
Chapman sent the Yankees to some undesirable history, according to @OptaSTATS on social media:
The Yankees are the first team in MLB postseason history to have the bases loaded with nobody out in the bottom of the 9th but not score a run and lose the game.
New York fans will undoubtedly be kicking themselves after this one, as bases loaded, nobody out is a massive missed opportunity, especially now with the season on the line.
A career of excellence
Now 37 years old, Chapman is in the 16th year of his career with the Cincinnati Reds, the Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates and Red Sox.
He went 5-3 with a microscopic 1.17 ERA this season, and he made his eighth All-Star Game.
A two-time World Series champion (2016, 2023), Chapman has 367 career saves, including nine seasons of 30 saves or more. With a career 2.52 ERA, he could be looking at a Hall of Fame resume.
What's next?
Boston will look to punch its ticket to the American League Division Series on Wednesday night against the Yankees. First pitch is 6:08 p.m. ET and Brayan Bello (SOX) will pitch against Carlos Rodon (NYY).
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