Yankees Use Knicks As Motivation To Advance To The ALDS

by Arop KualOctober 6, 2026, 12:27 pm >

The New York Yankees advance to the ALDS after sweeping their rivals, the Boston Red Sox, in the wild card. Both teams met in the wild card last year, when the Yankees won the series 2-1.

The Yankees celebrated their win in the clubhouse with champagne. Aaron Judge, who did not play in the series because of a calf strain, smiled in the clubhouse during the celebration. He said that the team was motivated by the New York Knicks, who won the NBA Finals in the summer.

“We’re definitely inspired by the Knicks, gotta keep the winning goin in New York,” Judge said.

Cody Bellinger put the game away after scoring a three-run homer in the sixth inning; he said the atmosphere in The Bronx was “special” for the home players.

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“Honestly, this place is such an amazing place to play in the postseason. Fans are so into the game; it’s just an electric atmosphere. It’s really special.” Bellinger said.

While the Yankees were ecstatic about advancing to the ALDS, the Red Sox were disappointed to see their season end after a push during the summer where they got over .500 and into a playoff contender.

Garret Crochet, who returned for the first time since April after dealing with left shoulder inflammation, allowed three runs on four hits without recording an out in relief.

Speaking to the media post-game, he did not hide how he felt about how the season had ended.

“I feel healthy but I feel like s–-,” Crochet said after Boston’s loss. “For our season to end the same way it did last year, against what the media would probably portray, and I think a lot of the guys in this clubhouse would say, is our biggest rival, it sucks. We made ’em earn it — that’s part of it. They’re a good team.

“It just sucks that’s how it ends for us.”

The Yankees will continue their quest to win the World Series for the first time since 2009, but before that, they will need to advance past the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS.