Heroes and zeros from the Yankees’ 4-3 Game 2 win over the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.

Hero

The Yankees were in need of a hit — particularly with a runner on base — and Austin Wells delivered. The catcher, whose playing time has taken a dip this season because of Ben Rice’s rise, snuck a single down the right field line for the go-ahead RBI in the eighth.

Zero

Brayan Bello lasted just 2 ¹/₃ innings in which he was hit hard — two runs on four hits and a walk — before Boston manager Alex Cora essentially opted for a bullpen game.

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This one, Jarren Duran said, will "sting a little bit." The game is "100 percent on me." Aaron Judge's ball bounced off his glove in the fifth inning as he attempted to make a diving catch, and it allowed Trent Grisham to score from second base and gave the Yankees a temporary 3-2 lead in the fifth inning of Game 2.

"If I make that play, Trevor [Story] hits the homer, we take the lead," Duran said postgame, according to the Boston Globe. "But I messed it up. I gave them momentum. … That one’s on me. I’m going to have to wear that one."

Wednesday marked just the first time since 2013 — during Game 3 of the ALDS against the Rays — that the Red Sox lost in a potential clinching scenario, snapping the second-longest streak in playoff history. They'd won eight consecutive games since that lost to Tampa Bay, just one victory shy of the MLB record set by the Athletics between 1973-90, according to the team.

Ben Rice became just the sixth MLB player since 2000 to hit a home run on the first postseason pitch seen in their career, according to the team. He joined Lane Thomas in 2024, Juan Yepez in 2022, Evan Longoria in 2008, Raul Chavez in 2004 and Jason Lane in 2004.

"Two rookies, Game 3, Wild Card, Yankees-Red Sox," Alex Cora said of Cam Schlittler and Connelly Early. "Imagine that. Should be a fun night."