Fri Oct 03 10:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Yankees Force Game 3 Against Red Sox Thanks to Chisholm’s Heroics

**NEW YORK** – In a dramatic turnaround, Jazz Chisholm Jr. delivered a season-defining performance for the New York Yankees on Wednesday night, leading them to a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series. After being benched in Game 1, Chisholm’s clutch plays on both offense and defense forced a decisive Game 3 showdown on Thursday.

The game was a rollercoaster, with Ben Rice launching a two-run homer in the first inning, answered by a two-run single from Boston’s Trevor Story. However, the spotlight shone brightest on Chisholm. In the seventh, with the game tied and the Red Sox threatening, he made a diving stop on a ground ball that prevented a go-ahead run. Then, in the eighth, after drawing a crucial walk, Chisholm sprinted from first base to score the winning run on Austin Wells’ single, sliding headfirst across home plate and sending the Yankee faithful into a frenzy.

“Anything to help us win,” Chisholm said after the game. “It is win or go home for us. It is all about winning.”

His performance came after a controversial Game 1 benching, a decision that visibly frustrated Chisholm. Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged the situation, stating, “Wasn’t necessarily how I [would’ve] handled it, but I don’t need him to put a happy face on. I need him to go out and play his butt off for us tonight.”

And that’s exactly what he did. Teammates were quick to praise Chisholm’s impact. “That was the game right there,” said reliever Fernando Cruz, referring to Chisholm’s defensive gem. “Jazz saved us the game. Completely.”

Aaron Judge echoed the sentiment: “He’s a game changer. He showed up ready to play today and ended up having the plays for us throughout the night.”

The Yankees and Red Sox will now face off in their fourth winner-take-all postseason game, the first since the 2021 AL Wild Card Game won by Boston. Should the Yankees prevail, they will advance to the Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Adding a lighter note to the intense situation, Chisholm revealed his stress-relieving secret: a late-night video game session where he “mercy-ruled” an opponent playing as his custom-made team, the New York Aliens.

“That’s how I get my stress off,” Chisholm said.

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