Anthony Volpe rewards Yankees faith with strong Game 1

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.When Anthony Volpe was at some of his lowest points this season, Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone each stood behind the shortstop, harkening back to what he did last October as reason to believe he was capable of more.That faith was rewarded in Volpe’s first at-bat.The shortstop, who made a late push to regain his starting job, was responsible for the only bit of Yankees offense on Tuesday night, homering off Garrett Crochet in a 3-1 loss to the Red Sox in Game 1 of their AL wild-card series at Yankee Stadium.“It felt good to put us ahead,” Volpe said.

“These are tight games, tight margins, so anytime you can get a lead or put something on the board or get something going, it feels good.”Crochet threw Volpe a 97 mph sinker near the high-and-outside corner and Volpe planted it in the right field seats for the 1-0 lead in the second inning, though it did not last.But Volpe, who played clean defense, including a nice play to his right in the first inning, finished the night 2-for-3.Both of his hits came against Crochet, who gave up just four hits across 7 ²/₃ dominant innings.That built on his postseason success from last year, when Volpe hit .286 with a .815 OPS and consistently put together some of the best Yankees at-bats.

Tuesday’s homer marked the second of his playoff career, the other a grand slam in Game 4 of the World Series against the Dodgers here last fall.The Yankees roster for the wild-card series included three catchers, with J.C.Escarra joining the fold at the expense of reserve outfielder Austin Slater, and Will Warren claiming a bullpen spot over lefty Ryan Yarbrough as the Yankees set out again to try to capture the franchise’s 28th championship.Having Escarra on roster allowed Boone greater flexibility in being able to pinch hit and/or pinch run for Austin Wells and/or Ben Rice, especially whe...