NEW YORK — For the second year in a row, the Red Sox season ended where it began: at Yankee Stadium. On Wednesday night, before September officially turned to October, marking the true beginning of the postseason, the Red Sox were sent packing, again, by the Yankees. Unlike last year in this round, there was no need for a third game.
No need for Giancarlo Stanton. The Red Sox lost 9-2 on Wednesday night, a day after getting blown out 9-0 in the opener. Instead, only embarrassment lived.
Only quietness existed inside a clubhouse that will have to chew on two humiliating losses in the American League Wild Card Series. There will be plenty from this season worth pointing to. The Red Sox were once 14 games under .500.
Then came the midsummer streak when they rattled off 15 straight wins and went 27-3 from the start of July through the beginning of August. Willson Contreras's season was vital to this club's success. Caleb Durbin's toughness and grit helped set the tone.
The offense showed some malleability, deviating from its pull-side approach and becoming less one-dimensional. But don't let any of it obscure the reality. Don't let the front office twist this.
Don't let it off the hook too easily. The front office pivoted to Durbin only once it missed out on Alex Bregman. And when October arrived -- pardon, the end of September -- the Red Sox finished their season with one fewer postseason win than they had a year ago.
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