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 had thrown six scoreless innings on 99 pitches until a change.
With the Yankees holding 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 on three pitches.
Boone pulled Fried after his 102nd pitch and inserted reliever Luke Weaver to finish 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. The home team loaded the bases with nobody out against closer Aroldis Chapman. But the former Yankees reliever 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.
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) October 1, 2025
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.
Max Fried around 100 pitches with a shutout… Aaron Boone takes him out
— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) October 1, 2025
Garrett Crochet around 100 pitches… Alex Cora DOESN’T EVEN WARM ANYBODY UP
That’s a Loser Manager vs a Real Manager right there pic.twitter.com/BqPgEa7ot1
My Wife: “Why did the Yankees take the good pitcher (Max Fried) out?”
— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) October 1, 2025
Me: “He was at 102 pitches.”
My Wife: “Well, he should’ve thrown more.”
Honestly, can’t argue with her.
Still trying to process yanking Max Fried in the 7th. Needed him to get through that inning no matter how many pitches he would reach. He was in a rhythm, let him finish the inning.
— lildubey (@lildubeypens) October 1, 2025
Classic Aaron Boone masterclass if I’ve ever seen one. Unbelievable. Sold the game. #RepBx pic.twitter.com/E60sJzLVGJ
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.
