Mark Leiter Jr. Blinks in Fried-Bello Duel. Boston 1 NY 0

August 23, 2025 paperbacklou 2025 0

The good news — Max Fried was BACK to his old Super Ace self — which the Yankees hadn’t seen since June. He pitched 6 innings of 3-hit, shutout baseball.

The bad news — Brayan Bello matched him and then some — pitching 7 innings of 3-hit shutout baseball.

The pitcher’s duel came down to the bullpens — and Mark Leiter Jr. blinked — allowing consecutive doubles in the 7th inning for a 1-0 Boston lead, and the Red Sox bullpen of former Yankees Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman were spotless with a shutout inning each.

Final score: Boston 1 NY 0 — on a beautiful, late summer Friday night in the Bronx.

The Yanks got 3 hits — by Trent Grisham, Ben Rice, and Austin Wells — and 1 walk — by Jasson Dominguez. And that was it. Grisham’s single came with 1 out in the 3rd, and was followed by Rice grounding into a double play. Wells’ single came in the 6th, and was followed by Grisham lining into a double play.

The last 11 Yanks were retired in a row.

“We got to get over it and try to get a W tomorrow,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards.

NY falls to 69-59, 5.5 behind Toronto and now .5 behind the Red Sox. Boston is now 70-59.

1. Fried Fantastic

Finally Fried was Fantastic again for the Yanks — throwing 6 scoreless innings, allowing 4 hits, although he scattered a season-high 3 walks. Fried struck out 7 in a beautiful 99-pitch effort.

2. The Squirrel

The game also marked the major league debut of Boston’s highly touted prospect Jhostynxon Garcia, nicknamed “the Password,” adding an extra layer of intrigue. A squirrel running onto the field during Garcia’s at-bat in the fourth inning provided a lighthearted moment in an otherwise intense battle. The squirrel halted play and drew chuckles from the crowd.

3. Bello Fantastic

Brayan Bello, Boston’s right-hander, had already proven his mettle against the Yankees earlier in the season, tossing seven scoreless innings in a June 15 victory.

Brayan Bello delivered a masterful performance, pitching seven innings of three-hit ball to stifle the Yankees’ potent lineup. Allowing only singles to Ben Rice, Trent Grisham, and Austin Wells, Bello permitted just four baserunners while striking out five and walking one.

His efficiency was evident as he induced two double plays, including one in the third inning after Grisham’s hit, and another in the sixth when Wells was doubled off first on a line drive by Grisham.

4. Leiter Jr. Blinks

The game’s lone run came in the seventh inning when Boston capitalized on a rare opportunity. Pinch-hitter Nathaniel Lowe doubled off reliever Mark Leiter Jr., and Connor Wong followed with an RBI double to drive him in, giving the Red Sox a 1-0 lead. The rally came against Leiter (5-7), who took the loss after allowing two hits in his lone inning. Wong’s clutch hit, his second of the night, proved to be the difference, as Boston’s bullpen held firm to protect the slim advantage.

5. Devin Great

More good news for the Yanks — Devin Williams was sharp again, pitching a 1-2-3 inning in the 8th, striking out 2.

6. Bednar Good

David Bednar was good too — allowing a leadoff walk in the top of the 9th, but then getting 3 straight outs — ground out, fly out, and ground out to keep the game at 1-0.

7. Whitlock & Chapman Wrap Up

After Bello’s gem, Boston’s bullpen ensured the victory. Garrett Whitlock struck out pinch-hitter Giancarlo Stanton on three pitches to end the eighth, preserving the 1-0 lead.

Aroldis Chapman, a former Yankee, closed out the game in the ninth, striking out Trent Grisham and Ben Rice swinging for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401696825

 

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