Fri Oct 03 00:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Red Sox Steal Game 1 from Yankees with Sogard’s Hustle and Cora’s Strategy
**NEW YORK** – The Boston Red Sox edged out the New York Yankees 3-1 in a tense Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series Tuesday night, fueled by a combination of All-Star performances and shrewd, heads-up play from utility man Nick Sogard. While Garrett Crochet, Alex Bregman, and Aroldis Chapman lived up to their reputations, it was Sogard’s aggressive baserunning in the seventh inning that ultimately sparked the Red Sox offense.
After six scoreless innings locked in a pitching duel between Boston’s Crochet and Yankees ace Max Fried, the Red Sox finally broke through against reliever Luke Weaver. Ceddanne Rafaela’s 11-pitch walk ignited the rally, followed by Sogard’s seemingly innocuous single to right-center. However, Sogard never hesitated, turning the hit into a hustle double by challenging right fielder Aaron Judge’s recovering right elbow.
“It kind of took a while to field it and it was Judge fielding it, and I just tried to challenge the arm in that spot,” Sogard explained. Judge, who has been limited by a right flexor strain, admitted he wasn’t surprised by Sogard’s aggressive play, despite the outfielder’s throws being noticeably weaker than before his injury.
The gamble paid off immediately as Masataka Yoshida followed with a single, driving in two runs and giving the Red Sox their first lead.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora credited pre-game preparation for Sogard’s heads-up play, stating, “We talk about their outfielders and what can we do or what we cannot do, and he saw it right away and took advantage of it.”
Cora’s decision to start Sogard, a player who has split time between the majors and Triple-A, was further vindication of his managerial style, which emphasizes utilizing the entire roster. Sogard’s performance reinforced Cora’s belief that every player contributes to a championship-caliber team.
“He plays his tail off and it showed tonight,” said Bregman. “AC said at the beginning of Spring Training it is going to take every single person in the room if we want to get to where we want to get to. Sogy was so big tonight.”
While the Yankees look to bounce back, they’ll need to find a way to mitigate the Red Sox’s aggressive baserunning and Cora’s strategic use of his entire roster, as Sogard and the Red Sox proved they are ready to exploit any advantage. The series continues, with the Red Sox holding the early momentum thanks to a mix of star power and a little bit of hustle.
First Piper 