2 costly Red Sox decisions put Yankees in driver's seat to steal Wild Card Series

The Boston Red Sox weren't in a must-win situation as dire as the New York Yankees' were on Wednesday night, but it was incredibly close. On Monday, manager Alex Cora revealed Lucas Giolito would miss the Wild Card Series, which put a potential Game 3 against New York in flux.

So after they ripped the Yankees' hearts out on Tuesday night and had Brayan Bello on the mound for Game 2 (he had a 2.35 ERA vs New York for his career coming into this one), the momentum was there for the Sox to avoid a perilous do-or-die matchup.

But the Yankees, in a gritty performance, took home a 4-3 victory. Austin Wells and Jazz Chisholm were the late-inning heroes. Aaron Judge notched a go-ahead RBI. Ben Rice got the scoring started with a two-run blast. It was a hard-fought win, and one the Red Sox borderline gave away.

Firsly, Cora removed Bello after just 2 1/3 innings after the Yankees had gotten after him early. He didn't have his best stuff, but that was awfully early for the right-hander to get the hook given his past ability to go deep into games against New York.

Cora proceeded to burn his bullpen and use six relievers, including one of his aces in the hole. Garrett Whitlock threw a ridiculous 47 pitches as he tried to get the Red Sox to the finish line, but the Yankees scored the game-winning run off him, logging three hits and two walks across those 1 2/3 innings.

That means he won't be used on Thursday. And it's possible the same could be said for both Justin Wilson and/or Steven Matz, with the left-handers throwing 23 and 24 pitches.

2 costly Red Sox decisions put Yankees in driver's seat to steal Wild Card Series

The Yankees scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth, but the other Red Sox gaffe that cost them in Game 2 came in the top of the seventh. In that frame, they put pressure on Carlos Rodón by putting the first two runners on base. The left-hander was yanked after six innings and three earned runs as Aaron Boone called on Fernando Cruz.

A botched Ceddanne Rafaela bunt gifted the Yankees and out, and the Cruz got Nick Sogard to fly out to left field. That brought Yankee Killer Masataka Yoshida to the plate. After waiting for his pitch to hit, Yoshida ripped a grounder up the middle that looked like it was going to make the outfield grass.

But there was Chisholm, diving full extension to knock the ball down. He attempted a valiant throw to first base, but it wasn't in time. It hopped a few times and Rice couldn't handle it, as the ball trickled into foul territory. At that point, Yankees fans thought they were dead. Speedster Nate Eaton was on second base and it was almost a guarantee he'd be scoring.

For whatever reason, though, Eaton stopped as he rounded third when there was absolutely no reason to. But he was just taking orders from his third base coach, who signaled for him to stay put. Had Eaton turned on the jets and dashed for him, there was a very good chance he would've gotten in safely to give the Sox a one-run lead with nine outs to go (which is exactly what they did the night prior.

Instead, Cruz got the final out of the inning by getting Trevor Story to fly out to deep center field. The door was left open for the Yankees and they capitalized. Yeah, we're as shocked as you are. And now the Sox are likely starting a pitcher who has appeared in just four games since debuting this year in Connelly Early, while New York will counter with rookie sensation Cam Schlittler and a bullpen that's a bit more well-rested.

It's all right there for them to seal the deal and advance to the ALDS just one night after it look like Boston check-mated them.