Red Sox drop Game 2 to New York 4-3 in AL Wild Card round

No one said it would be easy.The Boston Red Sox dropped Game 2 of the American League Wild Card series 4-3 to the New York Yankees. The game started with fireworks when Yankees first baseman Ben Rice blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning off Brayan Bello in what would be a short outing for him.Two innings later the Sox tied things up when shortstop Trevor Story ripped a single up the middle to drive in two runs.With the game tied at 2 apiece, Red Sox Manager Alex Cora made the controversial decision to pull Bello in the bottom of the third inning after putting men on first and second with one out.Bello pitched just 2.1 innings with four hits, two earned runs and a walk.Reliever Justin Wilson came in and got the Sox out of the jam.In the bottom of the fifth with Justin Slaten on the mound, Aaron Judge hit a line drive to left field that Jarren Duran couldn’t corral. One run scored and the Yanks took a 3-2 lead, but not for long.Story tied things up an inning later with a solo home run, his first of the playoffs.In the bottom of the 8th inning, Yankees catcher Austin Wells hit an RBI single to right field off Garrett Whitlock to put New York on top 4-3.The Red Sox rally effort fell short.Boston and New York will play a win-or-go-home game Thursday night in the Bronx.

CONCOURSE, N.Y. —

No one said it would be easy.

The Boston Red Sox dropped Game 2 of the American League Wild Card series 4-3 to the New York Yankees.

The game started with fireworks when Yankees first baseman Ben Rice blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning off Brayan Bello in what would be a short outing for him.

Two innings later the Sox tied things up when shortstop Trevor Story ripped a single up the middle to drive in two runs.

With the game tied at 2 apiece, Red Sox Manager Alex Cora made the controversial decision to pull Bello in the bottom of the third inning after putting men on first and second with one out.

Bello pitched just 2.1 innings with four hits, two earned runs and a walk.

Reliever Justin Wilson came in and got the Sox out of the jam.

In the bottom of the fifth with Justin Slaten on the mound, Aaron Judge hit a line drive to left field that Jarren Duran couldn’t corral. One run scored and the Yanks took a 3-2 lead, but not for long.

Story tied things up an inning later with a solo home run, his first of the playoffs.

In the bottom of the 8th inning, Yankees catcher Austin Wells hit an RBI single to right field off Garrett Whitlock to put New York on top 4-3.

The Red Sox rally effort fell short.

Boston and New York will play a win-or-go-home game Thursday night in the Bronx.