Yankees defense rises to occasion in multiple key spots in Game 2 win

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.During their summer swoon, the Yankees defense failed them too often.On the first night of October, with their season on the line, it rose to the occasion and helped force a Game 3 in their AL wild-card series.

In another tight game where every 90 feet was crucial, the Yankees infield turned in another sharp effort behind Carlos Rodón and three relievers on the way to a 4-3 win over the Red Sox in The Bronx.Jazz Chisholm Jr., who scored the winning run on Austin Wells’ single in the eighth inning, had an especially strong night.He made a diving stop to knock down Masataka Yoshida’s infield single with two men on in the seventh inning, and while he did not get the out at first, he stopped at least one run from scoring in what was then a 3-3 game.Rodón was responsible for the only Yankees error of the night, bouncing a throw to first on a bunt attempt in the third inning before the Red Sox tied the game at two.

But it could have been worse if not for more fine defense from Chisholm, who went to his left to field a grounder from Alex Bregman and spun about to throw to second, where Anthony Volpe made a quick turn for the inning-ending double play.“The double play they turned on Bregman to his left with Volpe was special,” manager Aaron Boone said.

It was one of three double plays the Yankees turned on the night — another strong one started by third baseman Ryan McMahon to end the sixth inning before Devin Williams started one of his own in the eighth, with help from Volpe.“Defensively we had some great turns,” Rodón said.Through two games this postseason, Aaron Judge is 4-for-8, including an RBI single in the fifth inning Wednesday that left fielder Jarren Duran was unable to come up with on a diving attempt.Judge did not record his fourth hit last postseason until Game 3 of the ALCS.Boone said the one decisi...