NEW YORK — The AL Wild Card Game was not even in hand when the cry began midway through the sixth inning of an eventual 7–2 Yankees victory. New York was up 2–0 and threatening for more, with mammoth rightfielder Aaron Judge stalking around second base, but in the cereal bowl of Yankee Stadium, a two-run lead means little. Still the fans allowed their gaze to drift into the future. The chant began in the bleachers before overtaking the rest of the sellout crowd: WE WANT BOS-TON.
They were not alone in looking forward. Outfielder Brett Gardner, the longest-tenured Yankee, knew as early as the first inning that his team would win.