The New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 1-0 at Yankee Stadium on Friday, August 28, 2026, with Paul Goldschmidt's solo home run providing the only run of the game and Cam Schlittler delivering 5.2 innings of two-hit, eight-strikeout ball to earn the win. David Bednar closed it out with a perfect ninth for the save. In a tight division matchup that came down to a single swing, the Yankees got exactly what they needed from their pitching staff and just enough from the offense.

Cam Schlittler Carries the Pitching Staff

Schlittler was the story on the mound. The right-hander worked 5.2 innings, limiting Boston to two hits while striking out eight batters. He did issue five walks, which kept the Red Sox in the game longer than the line score suggests, but he stranded every runner and never allowed a run. That's the kind of performance that wins low-scoring ballgames in August.

The bullpen did its job from there. Brent Headrick covered 0.2 innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one batter and keeping the scoreboard clean. Paul Blackburn then worked 1.2 innings, surrendering two hits but nothing more. Bednar came on for the ninth, sat Boston down in order, and secured the 1-0 final.

Goldschmidt's Home Run Stands as the Difference

Offense was at a premium all night. Patrick Sandoval started for Boston and was sharp enough, pitching 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts, but the one mistake he made cost his team the game. Goldschmidt turned on a pitch and hit it out of the park for a solo home run, going 1-for-4 on the night with that one swing accounting for the Yankees' only run and only RBI.

Ben Rice was the other bright spot at the plate, going 2-for-4, though he did not factor into the scoring. With the offense limited to three total hits against Sandoval and three Red Sox relievers — Greg Weissert, Tyron Guerrero, and Wyatt Olds combined for 2.2 scoreless innings — the Yankees made one hit count more than Boston made four.

Boston's Offense Never Found a Groove

The Red Sox managed four hits on the night but could not convert any of them into a run. Ceddanne Rafaela went 2-for-4 and Wilyer Abreu went 2-for-3, giving Boston their two most productive hitters at the plate, but the Yankees' pitching staff kept both runners stranded whenever they reached base. Schlittler's five walks were a concern, but his ability to pitch out of trouble repeatedly proved decisive.

Key Performances

  • Cam Schlittler (W): 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 5 BB, 8 K
  • Paul Goldschmidt: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Ben Rice: 2-for-4
  • David Bednar (SV): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
  • Patrick Sandoval (L): 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 7 K
  • Ceddanne Rafaela: 2-for-4
  • Wilyer Abreu: 2-for-3

What's Next

The Yankees and Red Sox remain at Yankee Stadium with the series continuing this weekend. After a 1-0 win in the opener, New York will look to build on the momentum of a clean combined shutout. The pitching staff proved it can win a game with minimal offensive support, and that formula may need to hold up again as the series progresses.