Letdown
Michael T Hahn
October 09, 2025
The Red Sox made it interesting this season. After failing to qualify for the playoffs during several years following their 2021 loss in the AL Championship Series, this year's "plucky" team scraped into the Wild Card Round. Fate smiled when the Sox wound up facing their longtime rivals, the New York Yankees. In the first game of the adversarial matchup, Sox ace Garrett Crochet hurled a masterful game, dominating the vaunted Yankee sluggers and sending Red Sox Nation into a delirious elation with a one-game lead in the best-of-three contest with the Evil Empire.
It was all downhill from there. In the second game, starting pitcher Brayan Bello was pulled from the game after he allowed 4 hits, a walk and two earned runs in only 2.1 innings. Bello gave up a home run and didn't strike out anyone. Manager Alex Cora might have been a bit quick with the hook, but Belloàfaltering start provoked Cora to hand the game over to his bullpen. Relievers Justin Slaten and Garrett Whitlock, normally reliable, each gave up an earned run, leading to the Yankees 4 to 3 win. So it all game down to a decisive Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. Unfortunately, pitcher Lucas Giolito was unavailable to start Game 3 due to an ailing elbow, so the task fell to rookie Connelly Early. Drafted by the Red Sox in 2023, Early's first Major League appearance came on September 9, 2025. Starting such an inexperienced pitcher in such an important game was a historic event. At 23 years old, Early was the youngest player to start a postseason game for the Red Sox since Babe Ruth in 1916! Considering the depleted roster of the Sox, however, Early was the best man available, with an ERA of 2.33 and command of four competitive pitches in the zone. Early has a promising future, and he pitched well in his playoff debut, shutting down the Yankees during the first three innings. He ran into trouble in the fourth inning, when his teammates let him down with a couple of fielding bobbles that led to an early exit for Early. On the bright side, Early recorded six strikeouts and only one walk. The kid did well. So did under-rated outfielder/DH Masataka Yoshida, whose hitting excelled throughout September. During the Wildcard Round, Yoshida produced 4 hits in only 7 at-bats. Wait until next year!
Michael Hahn Band varies in size from a duo to a six-piece band, depending upon the size and budget of the venue. They love to make music for any occasion. For bookings call 802-754-8889.JUpcoming Gigs:
Street Rally in Newport on Sat. October 18 from 11 to 1
Penelope Newcomb's Halloween Party in Charleston 6 to 9
It was all downhill from there. In the second game, starting pitcher Brayan Bello was pulled from the game after he allowed 4 hits, a walk and two earned runs in only 2.1 innings. Bello gave up a home run and didn't strike out anyone. Manager Alex Cora might have been a bit quick with the hook, but Belloàfaltering start provoked Cora to hand the game over to his bullpen. Relievers Justin Slaten and Garrett Whitlock, normally reliable, each gave up an earned run, leading to the Yankees 4 to 3 win. So it all game down to a decisive Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. Unfortunately, pitcher Lucas Giolito was unavailable to start Game 3 due to an ailing elbow, so the task fell to rookie Connelly Early. Drafted by the Red Sox in 2023, Early's first Major League appearance came on September 9, 2025. Starting such an inexperienced pitcher in such an important game was a historic event. At 23 years old, Early was the youngest player to start a postseason game for the Red Sox since Babe Ruth in 1916! Considering the depleted roster of the Sox, however, Early was the best man available, with an ERA of 2.33 and command of four competitive pitches in the zone. Early has a promising future, and he pitched well in his playoff debut, shutting down the Yankees during the first three innings. He ran into trouble in the fourth inning, when his teammates let him down with a couple of fielding bobbles that led to an early exit for Early. On the bright side, Early recorded six strikeouts and only one walk. The kid did well. So did under-rated outfielder/DH Masataka Yoshida, whose hitting excelled throughout September. During the Wildcard Round, Yoshida produced 4 hits in only 7 at-bats. Wait until next year!
Michael Hahn Band varies in size from a duo to a six-piece band, depending upon the size and budget of the venue. They love to make music for any occasion. For bookings call 802-754-8889.JUpcoming Gigs:
Street Rally in Newport on Sat. October 18 from 11 to 1
Penelope Newcomb's Halloween Party in Charleston 6 to 9
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