New York Post

‘We want Boston!’

- By DAN MARTIN

Yankees fans didn’t wait until the end of Wednesday’s wildcard victory to let it be known they were ready for an epic ALDS showdown with the rival Red Sox.

Soaked in champagne late Wednesday night, the Yankees already had their eyes on their next opponent. And they were looking forward to facing their bitter rivals, the Red Sox, in the ALDS. “Everybody in baseball wants this matchup and so do we,’’ Dellin Betances said after the Yankees’ 7-2 wild-card win over the A’s in The Bronx.

The Red Sox won an MLBbest 108 games this season, most in franchise history, to clinch home-field advantage for the playoffs, but the Yankees are undaunted.

“Any team in the playoffs is tough, but we’re a tough team, too,’’ Luis Severino said. “It’s gonna be a battle.”

Most of these players said they are too young to have any strong memories of the BostonYank­ee postseason matchups of the past.

CC Sabathia said he remembered Aaron Boone’s famous home run at Yankee Stadium that sent them to the World Series in 2003, but wanted his own shot at Boston.

“I haven’t played them in the playoffs since I’ve been here,’’ the lefty said. “I know it’s gonna be intense. We get a chance to finish the series right now in five games to see who’s the best.” It won’t be easy. “They have two of the best pitchers in the league in [Chris] Sale and [David] Price,” Sabathia said. “[Rick] Porcello is really good, but their lineup from top to bottom is probably just as good as ours.”

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States