Connelly Early Scuffles Late Against Yankees

Boston Red Sox pitcher Connelly Early

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Connelly Early took the mound for the Boston Red Sox against the New York Yankees on Monday. It was his first meeting with the division rivals since Game Three of the American League Wild Card Series in 2025, when he took the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) in 3 2/3 innings.

On Tuesday, it was a similar story to his last time out against New York. He allowed a run via a solo home run in the second inning, but the Yankees didn't threaten again until the sixth inning. In the sixth, however, he walked the first two hitters he faced before getting Ben Rice to punch out. With one out, Early couldn't get Giancarlo Stanton to chase after getting ahead 0-2. He doubled off the wall in a 3-2 count, plating two more runs and extending the Yankees' lead to three.

Before the sixth inning, however, Early was on cruise control. His changeup lived below the zone, inducing three whiffs and four ground ball outs. He was able to use his sinker on the arm-side against left-handed hitters, jamming them for weak ground balls, including a well-timed double play ball in the fourth inning.