Masataka Yoshida had already played the hero for the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card series, and he came into Game 2 aiming to repeat his clutch performance.
In the seventh inning, with two outs and Jarren Duran on first and Nate Eaton on second, Yoshida stepped up to face Fernando Cruz. He hit a grounder toward the middle of the infield, where Jazz Chisholm Jr. made a diving stop to keep it from reaching the outfield. Chisholm then threw to Ben Rice at first, but Rice mishandled the play, failing to secure the out.
As Yoshida dove into first base, the ball was still on the ground. Nate Eaton had ample time to reach home and was even waved in by first base coach José Flores. However, he hesitated and stayed at third base, opting to wait for Trevor Story’s at-bat.
Story ended the inning with a flyout, and the Red Sox missed their best chance to break the 3-3 tie. In the bottom half of the inning, Jazz Chisholm Jr. scored from first on an Austin Wells single, giving the Yankees the lead—and ultimately a 4-3 victory.
Red Sox’s decision not to send Nate Eaton home in the seveth inning cost them against Yankees
Alex Cora was told postgame that the telecast said Nate Eaton could’ve scored.
“That’s their opinion, you know? I think it’s easy from up there to say that he could’ve scored. You know, they’re not down there with us.” 😬@WEEI @SoxBooth #RedSox pic.twitter.com/ZZuBfVCns4
— Tom Carroll (@yaboiTCfresh) October 2, 2025
In the postgame interview, reporters asked Red Sox manager Alex Cora about the decision not to send Eaton home, and referenced the ESPN broadcast’s insistence that he could’ve scored. His answer did not satisfy the Red Sox fans listening.
“I think it’s easy from up there to say that he could’ve scored. You know, they’re not down there with us,” Cora said.
After the game, Eaton told reporters that third base coach Kyle Hudson initially told him to hold at third base. Eaton also mentioned that it was hard to see the ball from his vantage point, and Hudson likely had no idea where it was relative to the first baseman Rice.
Eaton, known for his elite speed—ranking in the 98th percentile and even outpacing Jarren Duran—is a constant threat on the base paths. Had he taken the risk and been thrown out at home, the inning would have ended with the game still tied and a potential rally cut short. But instead, the Red Sox opted for caution, holding Eaton at third and giving Trevor Story a chance with the bases loaded. Story, who was already having a strong night with two hits and three RBIs, couldn’t deliver this time.
Still, winning teams embrace risk in key moments, and the Red Sox missed that opportunity. With their bullpen nearly depleted in an effort to close out the Wild Card series in two games, Boston needed to be aggressive. Holding back their fastest runner on a misplayed infield ball—especially in a tie game—was a conservative move that ultimately cost them.
Now, the Red Sox will turn to 23-year-old Connelly Early to start Game 3, a winner-take-all matchup. The offense will need to show out and the coaching staff will need to make better calls for Boston to beat New York and advance to the next round.
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