It is only the first checkpoint of a postseason journey that the Yankees hope will stretch deep into October, but if they had to choose an opponent to step over first, there are few they’d enjoy sending home more than the Red Sox. Let the celebration begin: For the second consecutive year, that’s exactly what they’ve done. Luis García Jr. hit an early homer and Cody Bellinger delivered a three-run dagger late as the Yankees trounced the Red Sox, 9-2, on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, sweeping the two-game American League Wild Card Series and advancing into the AL Division Series against the Rays. Game 1 of the ALDS is scheduled for Saturday at Tropicana Field. Following Cam Schlittler’s lead from the series opener, Max Fried hurled six innings of one-run ball, then leaned on the bats to do the rest against their most historic rival. They did that and then some; it had been expected to be a low-scoring series, but the Yankees made it a lopsided one. Imported to supply power with Aaron Judge on the injured list, García's big fourth-inning swing represented the first dent against one-time Yankee Sonny Gray, who was touched for a pair of runs before exiting to a loud chorus of boos in the fifth.
