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VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM GAME THREE OF THE MLB AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES BETWEEN THE NEW YORK YANKEES AND THE BOSTON RED SOX AT YANKEE STADIUM COMPLETE SCRIPT TO FOLLOW SHOWS: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 2, 2025) (MLB – See restrictions) SHOTLIST TO FOLLOW STORY: Rookie Cam Schlittler struck out 12 in eight innings during a stellar postseason debut as the New York Yankees eliminated the Boston Red Sox with a 4-0 victory in Game Three of the American League wild-card series on Thursday (October 2) night. The Yankees, who won the final two games of the best-of-three set, advance to the AL Division Series to face the Blue Jays. Game 1 of the best-of-five series is scheduled for Saturday in Toronto. New York capitalized on shaky Boston defense in a four-run fourth inning. That was more than enough for Schlittler (1-0), who allowed five hits and no walks while throwing consistently in the upper 90s. The 24-year-old right-hander fired 75 of his career-high 107 pitches for strikes. Schlittler joined Roger Clemens (15 in 2000), Gerrit Cole (13 in 2020) and Orlando Hernandez (12 in 2000) as the fourth player in Yankees history with at least 12 strikeouts in a postseason game. He is the only rookie in that group. Schlittler ended the seventh by fanning Wilyer Abreu on his 100th pitch as Fernando Cruz warmed up. He needed seven more pitches to finish the eighth, which was aided by third baseman Ryan McMahon falling into the Boston dugout to catch a foul pop by Jarren Duran. Amed Rosario hit an RBI single and Anthony Volpe added a bases-loaded single off Boston rookie Connelly Early (0-1). The last two runs scored when first baseman Nathaniel Lowe misplayed Austin Wells' grounder. In the postseason for the first time since 2021, the Red Sox got short starts from Brayan Bello and Early after Garrett Crochet's 117-pitch masterpiece on Tuesday. Early allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits in 3 2/3 innings. The left-hander struck out six and walked one. Cody Bellinger started the fourth-inning rally by hustling for a double when Abreu could not make a diving catch in right field. Giancarlo Stanton followed with a walk. One out later, Rosario drove in Bellinger with a single to left, Jazz Chisholm Jr. loaded the bases with a hit, and Volpe stroked a single to right for a 2-0 lead. Wells fell behind 0-2 in the count but capped a nine-pitch at-bat by hitting a grounder off Lowe's glove that trickled into right field and allowed Rosario and Chisholm to score. New York closer David Bednar pitched around a walk in the ninth inning. (Production: Bhagya Ayyavoo) More MLB content is available on Reuters Connect here: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?sources=mlbimagen

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM GAME THREE OF THE MLB NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES BETWEEN THE CHICAGO CUBS AND THE SAN DIEGO PADRES AT WRIGLEY FIELD / SOUNDBITE OF CUBS' MANAGER CRAIG COUNSELL  COMPLETE SCRIPT TO FOLLOW SHOWS: CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 2, 2025) (MLB – See restrictions) SHOTLIST TO FOLLOW STORY: Michael Busch homered to cap a three-hit performance, helping the host Chicago Cubs advance to the National League Division Series with a 3-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday (October 2). Chicago secured a 2-1 victory in the best-of-three NL wild-card series, paving the way for a matchup against the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS. Game 1 of the best-of-five series is set for Saturday in Milwaukee. Pete Crow-Armstrong delivered an RBI single in the second inning to highlight his own three-hit outing. Dansby Swanson worked a bases-loaded walk later in the second and turned in several stellar defensive plays for the Cubs, who rebounded from a 3-0 setback on Wednesday. "Takes me back to my childhood," Swanson said on ESPN. "I love this game, I love to compete. I love my teammates. It's an incredible group of men and I couldn't be more proud to be here." Chicago had 13 hits Thursday after totaling just 10 in the previous two games. Daniel Palencia (2-0) allowed two hits in 1 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up his second win of the series. He struck out two batters without surrendering a hit in 1 2/3 scoreless innings in the Cubs' 3-1 victory in Game 1 on Tuesday. Drew Pomeranz retired all three batters he faced in the seventh inning and Brad Keller worked the eighth before allowing a lead-off homer to Jackson Merrill in the ninth. Keller rebounded to strike out Xander Bogaerts on a controversial 3-2 pitch before hitting both Ryan O'Hearn and Bryce Johnson with a pitch. Andrew Kittredge, working on his third straight day, induced Jake Cronenworth to ground out and Freddy Fermin to fly out to secure the save. "I'm just so proud of everybody," Chicago manager Craig Counsell said to Marquee Sports Network while getting doused in the locker room. "We played really good defense. Jameson Taillon was brilliant. He put the game together with four innings and 14 hitters, that was brilliant. It takes the whole group (of relievers) down there, it took the whole group all year and it took the whole group tonight." Padres manager Mike Shildt said of the called third strike on Bogaerts, "Looked down to me, but I don't see great and I'm kinda far away. Most importantly, Bogey felt like it was down, and he's not a guy that's overly dramatic about close pitches. It's a big pitch, it's a big swing pitch. And what unfolded after that could've been very impactful, but we had other opportunities, too." Busch deposited a 2-2 fastball from Robert Suarez over the wall in right-center field to lead off the seventh inning and stake Chicago to a 3-0 lead. The Cubs seized a 2-0 lead after their first five batters reached base in the second inning. Kyle Tucker singled and advanced to third on Seiya Suzuki's double to left field. Carson Kelly was hit by a pitch from Yu Darvish (0-1) to load the bases before Crow-Armstrong's RBI single plated Tucker with the game's first run. Darvish departed in favor of fellow former Cubs pitcher Jeremiah Estrada, who promptly walked Swanson on seven pitches with the bases loaded. Darvish permitted two runs on four hits in one-plus inning. "Basically didn't get it done as a wrap-up point," Shildt said. "There's a lot of hurt guys in that clubhouse. But we left it all out on the field and there's no regrets on anybody's part. It's just disappointing." (Production: Bhagya Ayyavoo) More MLB content is available on Reuters Connect here: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?sources=mlbimagen

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM GAME THREE OF THE MLB NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES BETWEEN THE CHICAGO CUBS AND THE SAN DIEGO PADRES AT WRIGLEY FIELD / SOUNDBITE OF CUBS' MANAGER CRAIG COUNSELL  COMPLETE SCRIPT TO FOLLOW SHOWS: CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 2, 2025) (MLB – See restrictions) SHOTLIST TO FOLLOW STORY: Michael Busch homered to cap a three-hit performance, helping the host Chicago Cubs advance to the National League Division Series with a 3-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday (October 2). Chicago secured a 2-1 victory in the best-of-three NL wild-card series, paving the way for a matchup against the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS. Game 1 of the best-of-five series is set for Saturday in Milwaukee. Pete Crow-Armstrong delivered an RBI single in the second inning to highlight his own three-hit outing. Dansby Swanson worked a bases-loaded walk later in the second and turned in several stellar defensive plays for the Cubs, who rebounded from a 3-0 setback on Wednesday. "Takes me back to my childhood," Swanson said on ESPN. "I love this game, I love to compete. I love my teammates. It's an incredible group of men and I couldn't be more proud to be here." Chicago had 13 hits Thursday after totaling just 10 in the previous two games. Daniel Palencia (2-0) allowed two hits in 1 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up his second win of the series. He struck out two batters without surrendering a hit in 1 2/3 scoreless innings in the Cubs' 3-1 victory in Game 1 on Tuesday. Drew Pomeranz retired all three batters he faced in the seventh inning and Brad Keller worked the eighth before allowing a lead-off homer to Jackson Merrill in the ninth. Keller rebounded to strike out Xander Bogaerts on a controversial 3-2 pitch before hitting both Ryan O'Hearn and Bryce Johnson with a pitch. Andrew Kittredge, working on his third straight day, induced Jake Cronenworth to ground out and Freddy Fermin to fly out to secure the save. "I'm just so proud of everybody," Chicago manager Craig Counsell said to Marquee Sports Network while getting doused in the locker room. "We played really good defense. Jameson Taillon was brilliant. He put the game together with four innings and 14 hitters, that was brilliant. It takes the whole group (of relievers) down there, it took the whole group all year and it took the whole group tonight." Padres manager Mike Shildt said of the called third strike on Bogaerts, "Looked down to me, but I don't see great and I'm kinda far away. Most importantly, Bogey felt like it was down, and he's not a guy that's overly dramatic about close pitches. It's a big pitch, it's a big swing pitch. And what unfolded after that could've been very impactful, but we had other opportunities, too." Busch deposited a 2-2 fastball from Robert Suarez over the wall in right-center field to lead off the seventh inning and stake Chicago to a 3-0 lead. The Cubs seized a 2-0 lead after their first five batters reached base in the second inning. Kyle Tucker singled and advanced to third on Seiya Suzuki's double to left field. Carson Kelly was hit by a pitch from Yu Darvish (0-1) to load the bases before Crow-Armstrong's RBI single plated Tucker with the game's first run. Darvish departed in favor of fellow former Cubs pitcher Jeremiah Estrada, who promptly walked Swanson on seven pitches with the bases loaded. Darvish permitted two runs on four hits in one-plus inning. "Basically didn't get it done as a wrap-up point," Shildt said. "There's a lot of hurt guys in that clubhouse. But we left it all out on the field and there's no regrets on anybody's part. It's just disappointing." (Production: Bhagya Ayyavoo) More MLB content is available on Reuters Connect here: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?sources=mlbimagen

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM GAME THREE OF THE MLB AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES BETWEEN THE NEW YORK YANKEES AND THE BOSTON RED SOX AT YANKEE STADIUM COMPLETE SCRIPT TO FOLLOW SHOWS: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 2, 2025) (MLB – See restrictions) SHOTLIST TO FOLLOW STORY: Rookie Cam Schlittler struck out 12 in eight innings during a stellar postseason debut as the New York Yankees eliminated the Boston Red Sox with a 4-0 victory in Game Three of the American League wild-card series on Thursday (October 2) night. The Yankees, who won the final two games of the best-of-three set, advance to the AL Division Series to face the Blue Jays. Game 1 of the best-of-five series is scheduled for Saturday in Toronto. New York capitalized on shaky Boston defense in a four-run fourth inning. That was more than enough for Schlittler (1-0), who allowed five hits and no walks while throwing consistently in the upper 90s. The 24-year-old right-hander fired 75 of his career-high 107 pitches for strikes. Schlittler joined Roger Clemens (15 in 2000), Gerrit Cole (13 in 2020) and Orlando Hernandez (12 in 2000) as the fourth player in Yankees history with at least 12 strikeouts in a postseason game. He is the only rookie in that group. Schlittler ended the seventh by fanning Wilyer Abreu on his 100th pitch as Fernando Cruz warmed up. He needed seven more pitches to finish the eighth, which was aided by third baseman Ryan McMahon falling into the Boston dugout to catch a foul pop by Jarren Duran. Amed Rosario hit an RBI single and Anthony Volpe added a bases-loaded single off Boston rookie Connelly Early (0-1). The last two runs scored when first baseman Nathaniel Lowe misplayed Austin Wells' grounder. In the postseason for the first time since 2021, the Red Sox got short starts from Brayan Bello and Early after Garrett Crochet's 117-pitch masterpiece on Tuesday. Early allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits in 3 2/3 innings. The left-hander struck out six and walked one. Cody Bellinger started the fourth-inning rally by hustling for a double when Abreu could not make a diving catch in right field. Giancarlo Stanton followed with a walk. One out later, Rosario drove in Bellinger with a single to left, Jazz Chisholm Jr. loaded the bases with a hit, and Volpe stroked a single to right for a 2-0 lead. Wells fell behind 0-2 in the count but capped a nine-pitch at-bat by hitting a grounder off Lowe's glove that trickled into right field and allowed Rosario and Chisholm to score. New York closer David Bednar pitched around a walk in the ninth inning. (Production: Bhagya Ayyavoo) More MLB content is available on Reuters Connect here: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?sources=mlbimagen

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM GAME THREE OF THE MLB AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES BETWEEN THE NEW YORK YANKEES AND THE BOSTON RED SOX AT YANKEE STADIUM COMPLETE SCRIPT TO FOLLOW SHOWS: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 2, 2025) (MLB – See restrictions) SHOTLIST TO FOLLOW STORY: Rookie Cam Schlittler struck out 12 in eight innings during a stellar postseason debut as the New York Yankees eliminated the Boston Red Sox with a 4-0 victory in Game Three of the American League wild-card series on Thursday (October 2) night. The Yankees, who won the final two games of the best-of-three set, advance to the AL Division Series to face the Blue Jays. Game 1 of the best-of-five series is scheduled for Saturday in Toronto. New York capitalized on shaky Boston defense in a four-run fourth inning. That was more than enough for Schlittler (1-0), who allowed five hits and no walks while throwing consistently in the upper 90s. The 24-year-old right-hander fired 75 of his career-high 107 pitches for strikes. Schlittler joined Roger Clemens (15 in 2000), Gerrit Cole (13 in 2020) and Orlando Hernandez (12 in 2000) as the fourth player in Yankees history with at least 12 strikeouts in a postseason game. He is the only rookie in that group. Schlittler ended the seventh by fanning Wilyer Abreu on his 100th pitch as Fernando Cruz warmed up. He needed seven more pitches to finish the eighth, which was aided by third baseman Ryan McMahon falling into the Boston dugout to catch a foul pop by Jarren Duran. Amed Rosario hit an RBI single and Anthony Volpe added a bases-loaded single off Boston rookie Connelly Early (0-1). The last two runs scored when first baseman Nathaniel Lowe misplayed Austin Wells' grounder. In the postseason for the first time since 2021, the Red Sox got short starts from Brayan Bello and Early after Garrett Crochet's 117-pitch masterpiece on Tuesday. Early allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits in 3 2/3 innings. The left-hander struck out six and walked one. Cody Bellinger started the fourth-inning rally by hustling for a double when Abreu could not make a diving catch in right field. Giancarlo Stanton followed with a walk. One out later, Rosario drove in Bellinger with a single to left, Jazz Chisholm Jr. loaded the bases with a hit, and Volpe stroked a single to right for a 2-0 lead. Wells fell behind 0-2 in the count but capped a nine-pitch at-bat by hitting a grounder off Lowe's glove that trickled into right field and allowed Rosario and Chisholm to score. New York closer David Bednar pitched around a walk in the ninth inning. (Production: Bhagya Ayyavoo) More MLB content is available on Reuters Connect here: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?sources=mlbimagen

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM GAME THREE OF THE MLB AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES BETWEEN THE NEW YORK YANKEES AND THE BOSTON RED SOX AT YANKEE STADIUM COMPLETE SCRIPT TO FOLLOW SHOWS: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 2, 2025) (MLB – See restrictions) SHOTLIST TO FOLLOW STORY: Rookie Cam Schlittler struck out 12 in eight innings during a stellar postseason debut as the New York Yankees eliminated the Boston Red Sox with a 4-0 victory in Game Three of the American League wild-card series on Thursday (October 2) night. The Yankees, who won the final two games of the best-of-three set, advance to the AL Division Series to face the Blue Jays. Game 1 of the best-of-five series is scheduled for Saturday in Toronto. New York capitalized on shaky Boston defense in a four-run fourth inning. That was more than enough for Schlittler (1-0), who allowed five hits and no walks while throwing consistently in the upper 90s. The 24-year-old right-hander fired 75 of his career-high 107 pitches for strikes. Schlittler joined Roger Clemens (15 in 2000), Gerrit Cole (13 in 2020) and Orlando Hernandez (12 in 2000) as the fourth player in Yankees history with at least 12 strikeouts in a postseason game. He is the only rookie in that group. Schlittler ended the seventh by fanning Wilyer Abreu on his 100th pitch as Fernando Cruz warmed up. He needed seven more pitches to finish the eighth, which was aided by third baseman Ryan McMahon falling into the Boston dugout to catch a foul pop by Jarren Duran. Amed Rosario hit an RBI single and Anthony Volpe added a bases-loaded single off Boston rookie Connelly Early (0-1). The last two runs scored when first baseman Nathaniel Lowe misplayed Austin Wells' grounder. In the postseason for the first time since 2021, the Red Sox got short starts from Brayan Bello and Early after Garrett Crochet's 117-pitch masterpiece on Tuesday. Early allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits in 3 2/3 innings. The left-hander struck out six and walked one. Cody Bellinger started the fourth-inning rally by hustling for a double when Abreu could not make a diving catch in right field. Giancarlo Stanton followed with a walk. One out later, Rosario drove in Bellinger with a single to left, Jazz Chisholm Jr. loaded the bases with a hit, and Volpe stroked a single to right for a 2-0 lead. Wells fell behind 0-2 in the count but capped a nine-pitch at-bat by hitting a grounder off Lowe's glove that trickled into right field and allowed Rosario and Chisholm to score. New York closer David Bednar pitched around a walk in the ninth inning. (Production: Bhagya Ayyavoo) More MLB content is available on Reuters Connect here: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?sources=mlbimagen

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM GAME THREE OF THE MLB NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES BETWEEN THE CHICAGO CUBS AND THE SAN DIEGO PADRES AT WRIGLEY FIELD / SOUNDBITE OF CUBS' MANAGER CRAIG COUNSELL  COMPLETE SCRIPT TO FOLLOW SHOWS: CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 2, 2025) (MLB – See restrictions) SHOTLIST TO FOLLOW STORY: Michael Busch homered to cap a three-hit performance, helping the host Chicago Cubs advance to the National League Division Series with a 3-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday (October 2). Chicago secured a 2-1 victory in the best-of-three NL wild-card series, paving the way for a matchup against the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS. Game 1 of the best-of-five series is set for Saturday in Milwaukee. Pete Crow-Armstrong delivered an RBI single in the second inning to highlight his own three-hit outing. Dansby Swanson worked a bases-loaded walk later in the second and turned in several stellar defensive plays for the Cubs, who rebounded from a 3-0 setback on Wednesday. "Takes me back to my childhood," Swanson said on ESPN. "I love this game, I love to compete. I love my teammates. It's an incredible group of men and I couldn't be more proud to be here." Chicago had 13 hits Thursday after totaling just 10 in the previous two games. Daniel Palencia (2-0) allowed two hits in 1 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up his second win of the series. He struck out two batters without surrendering a hit in 1 2/3 scoreless innings in the Cubs' 3-1 victory in Game 1 on Tuesday. Drew Pomeranz retired all three batters he faced in the seventh inning and Brad Keller worked the eighth before allowing a lead-off homer to Jackson Merrill in the ninth. Keller rebounded to strike out Xander Bogaerts on a controversial 3-2 pitch before hitting both Ryan O'Hearn and Bryce Johnson with a pitch. Andrew Kittredge, working on his third straight day, induced Jake Cronenworth to ground out and Freddy Fermin to fly out to secure the save. "I'm just so proud of everybody," Chicago manager Craig Counsell said to Marquee Sports Network while getting doused in the locker room. "We played really good defense. Jameson Taillon was brilliant. He put the game together with four innings and 14 hitters, that was brilliant. It takes the whole group (of relievers) down there, it took the whole group all year and it took the whole group tonight." Padres manager Mike Shildt said of the called third strike on Bogaerts, "Looked down to me, but I don't see great and I'm kinda far away. Most importantly, Bogey felt like it was down, and he's not a guy that's overly dramatic about close pitches. It's a big pitch, it's a big swing pitch. And what unfolded after that could've been very impactful, but we had other opportunities, too." Busch deposited a 2-2 fastball from Robert Suarez over the wall in right-center field to lead off the seventh inning and stake Chicago to a 3-0 lead. The Cubs seized a 2-0 lead after their first five batters reached base in the second inning. Kyle Tucker singled and advanced to third on Seiya Suzuki's double to left field. Carson Kelly was hit by a pitch from Yu Darvish (0-1) to load the bases before Crow-Armstrong's RBI single plated Tucker with the game's first run. Darvish departed in favor of fellow former Cubs pitcher Jeremiah Estrada, who promptly walked Swanson on seven pitches with the bases loaded. Darvish permitted two runs on four hits in one-plus inning. "Basically didn't get it done as a wrap-up point," Shildt said. "There's a lot of hurt guys in that clubhouse. But we left it all out on the field and there's no regrets on anybody's part. It's just disappointing." (Production: Bhagya Ayyavoo) More MLB content is available on Reuters Connect here: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?sources=mlbimagen

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM GAME THREE OF THE MLB NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES BETWEEN THE CHICAGO CUBS AND THE SAN DIEGO PADRES AT WRIGLEY FIELD / SOUNDBITE OF CUBS' MANAGER CRAIG COUNSELL  COMPLETE SCRIPT TO FOLLOW SHOWS: CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 2, 2025) (MLB – See restrictions) SHOTLIST TO FOLLOW STORY: Michael Busch homered to cap a three-hit performance, helping the host Chicago Cubs advance to the National League Division Series with a 3-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday (October 2). Chicago secured a 2-1 victory in the best-of-three NL wild-card series, paving the way for a matchup against the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS. Game 1 of the best-of-five series is set for Saturday in Milwaukee. Pete Crow-Armstrong delivered an RBI single in the second inning to highlight his own three-hit outing. Dansby Swanson worked a bases-loaded walk later in the second and turned in several stellar defensive plays for the Cubs, who rebounded from a 3-0 setback on Wednesday. "Takes me back to my childhood," Swanson said on ESPN. "I love this game, I love to compete. I love my teammates. It's an incredible group of men and I couldn't be more proud to be here." Chicago had 13 hits Thursday after totaling just 10 in the previous two games. Daniel Palencia (2-0) allowed two hits in 1 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up his second win of the series. He struck out two batters without surrendering a hit in 1 2/3 scoreless innings in the Cubs' 3-1 victory in Game 1 on Tuesday. Drew Pomeranz retired all three batters he faced in the seventh inning and Brad Keller worked the eighth before allowing a lead-off homer to Jackson Merrill in the ninth. Keller rebounded to strike out Xander Bogaerts on a controversial 3-2 pitch before hitting both Ryan O'Hearn and Bryce Johnson with a pitch. Andrew Kittredge, working on his third straight day, induced Jake Cronenworth to ground out and Freddy Fermin to fly out to secure the save. "I'm just so proud of everybody," Chicago manager Craig Counsell said to Marquee Sports Network while getting doused in the locker room. "We played really good defense. Jameson Taillon was brilliant. He put the game together with four innings and 14 hitters, that was brilliant. It takes the whole group (of relievers) down there, it took the whole group all year and it took the whole group tonight." Padres manager Mike Shildt said of the called third strike on Bogaerts, "Looked down to me, but I don't see great and I'm kinda far away. Most importantly, Bogey felt like it was down, and he's not a guy that's overly dramatic about close pitches. It's a big pitch, it's a big swing pitch. And what unfolded after that could've been very impactful, but we had other opportunities, too." Busch deposited a 2-2 fastball from Robert Suarez over the wall in right-center field to lead off the seventh inning and stake Chicago to a 3-0 lead. The Cubs seized a 2-0 lead after their first five batters reached base in the second inning. Kyle Tucker singled and advanced to third on Seiya Suzuki's double to left field. Carson Kelly was hit by a pitch from Yu Darvish (0-1) to load the bases before Crow-Armstrong's RBI single plated Tucker with the game's first run. Darvish departed in favor of fellow former Cubs pitcher Jeremiah Estrada, who promptly walked Swanson on seven pitches with the bases loaded. Darvish permitted two runs on four hits in one-plus inning. "Basically didn't get it done as a wrap-up point," Shildt said. "There's a lot of hurt guys in that clubhouse. But we left it all out on the field and there's no regrets on anybody's part. It's just disappointing." (Production: Bhagya Ayyavoo) More MLB content is available on Reuters Connect here: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?sources=mlbimagen

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM GAME THREE OF THE MLB AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES BETWEEN THE NEW YORK YANKEES AND THE BOSTON RED SOX AT YANKEE STADIUM COMPLETE SCRIPT TO FOLLOW SHOWS: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 2, 2025) (MLB – See restrictions) SHOTLIST TO FOLLOW STORY: Rookie Cam Schlittler struck out 12 in eight innings during a stellar postseason debut as the New York Yankees eliminated the Boston Red Sox with a 4-0 victory in Game Three of the American League wild-card series on Thursday (October 2) night. The Yankees, who won the final two games of the best-of-three set, advance to the AL Division Series to face the Blue Jays. Game 1 of the best-of-five series is scheduled for Saturday in Toronto. New York capitalized on shaky Boston defense in a four-run fourth inning. That was more than enough for Schlittler (1-0), who allowed five hits and no walks while throwing consistently in the upper 90s. The 24-year-old right-hander fired 75 of his career-high 107 pitches for strikes. Schlittler joined Roger Clemens (15 in 2000), Gerrit Cole (13 in 2020) and Orlando Hernandez (12 in 2000) as the fourth player in Yankees history with at least 12 strikeouts in a postseason game. He is the only rookie in that group. Schlittler ended the seventh by fanning Wilyer Abreu on his 100th pitch as Fernando Cruz warmed up. He needed seven more pitches to finish the eighth, which was aided by third baseman Ryan McMahon falling into the Boston dugout to catch a foul pop by Jarren Duran. Amed Rosario hit an RBI single and Anthony Volpe added a bases-loaded single off Boston rookie Connelly Early (0-1). The last two runs scored when first baseman Nathaniel Lowe misplayed Austin Wells' grounder. In the postseason for the first time since 2021, the Red Sox got short starts from Brayan Bello and Early after Garrett Crochet's 117-pitch masterpiece on Tuesday. Early allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits in 3 2/3 innings. The left-hander struck out six and walked one. Cody Bellinger started the fourth-inning rally by hustling for a double when Abreu could not make a diving catch in right field. Giancarlo Stanton followed with a walk. One out later, Rosario drove in Bellinger with a single to left, Jazz Chisholm Jr. loaded the bases with a hit, and Volpe stroked a single to right for a 2-0 lead. Wells fell behind 0-2 in the count but capped a nine-pitch at-bat by hitting a grounder off Lowe's glove that trickled into right field and allowed Rosario and Chisholm to score. New York closer David Bednar pitched around a walk in the ninth inning. (Production: Bhagya Ayyavoo) More MLB content is available on Reuters Connect here: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?sources=mlbimagen

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM GAME THREE OF THE MLB NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES BETWEEN THE CHICAGO CUBS AND THE SAN DIEGO PADRES AT WRIGLEY FIELD / SOUNDBITE OF CUBS' MANAGER CRAIG COUNSELL  COMPLETE SCRIPT TO FOLLOW SHOWS: CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 2, 2025) (MLB – See restrictions) SHOTLIST TO FOLLOW STORY: Michael Busch homered to cap a three-hit performance, helping the host Chicago Cubs advance to the National League Division Series with a 3-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday (October 2). Chicago secured a 2-1 victory in the best-of-three NL wild-card series, paving the way for a matchup against the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS. Game 1 of the best-of-five series is set for Saturday in Milwaukee. Pete Crow-Armstrong delivered an RBI single in the second inning to highlight his own three-hit outing. Dansby Swanson worked a bases-loaded walk later in the second and turned in several stellar defensive plays for the Cubs, who rebounded from a 3-0 setback on Wednesday. "Takes me back to my childhood," Swanson said on ESPN. "I love this game, I love to compete. I love my teammates. It's an incredible group of men and I couldn't be more proud to be here." Chicago had 13 hits Thursday after totaling just 10 in the previous two games. Daniel Palencia (2-0) allowed two hits in 1 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up his second win of the series. He struck out two batters without surrendering a hit in 1 2/3 scoreless innings in the Cubs' 3-1 victory in Game 1 on Tuesday. Drew Pomeranz retired all three batters he faced in the seventh inning and Brad Keller worked the eighth before allowing a lead-off homer to Jackson Merrill in the ninth. Keller rebounded to strike out Xander Bogaerts on a controversial 3-2 pitch before hitting both Ryan O'Hearn and Bryce Johnson with a pitch. Andrew Kittredge, working on his third straight day, induced Jake Cronenworth to ground out and Freddy Fermin to fly out to secure the save. "I'm just so proud of everybody," Chicago manager Craig Counsell said to Marquee Sports Network while getting doused in the locker room. "We played really good defense. Jameson Taillon was brilliant. He put the game together with four innings and 14 hitters, that was brilliant. It takes the whole group (of relievers) down there, it took the whole group all year and it took the whole group tonight." Padres manager Mike Shildt said of the called third strike on Bogaerts, "Looked down to me, but I don't see great and I'm kinda far away. Most importantly, Bogey felt like it was down, and he's not a guy that's overly dramatic about close pitches. It's a big pitch, it's a big swing pitch. And what unfolded after that could've been very impactful, but we had other opportunities, too." Busch deposited a 2-2 fastball from Robert Suarez over the wall in right-center field to lead off the seventh inning and stake Chicago to a 3-0 lead. The Cubs seized a 2-0 lead after their first five batters reached base in the second inning. Kyle Tucker singled and advanced to third on Seiya Suzuki's double to left field. Carson Kelly was hit by a pitch from Yu Darvish (0-1) to load the bases before Crow-Armstrong's RBI single plated Tucker with the game's first run. Darvish departed in favor of fellow former Cubs pitcher Jeremiah Estrada, who promptly walked Swanson on seven pitches with the bases loaded. Darvish permitted two runs on four hits in one-plus inning. "Basically didn't get it done as a wrap-up point," Shildt said. "There's a lot of hurt guys in that clubhouse. But we left it all out on the field and there's no regrets on anybody's part. It's just disappointing." (Production: Bhagya Ayyavoo) More MLB content is available on Reuters Connect here: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?sources=mlbimagen

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