BOSTON – Max Fried’s Performance Stands Out
Max Fried has been mixing up the speeds of his four-seam fastballs throughout the season.
However, on Saturday, the urgency of the moment saw him throwing some of his fastest pitches yet.
Fried delivered a powerful performance against the Yankees, showcasing his capabilities with multiple 99 mph fastballs in a 5-3 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
“It really gives me a boost both physically and mentally,” Fried noted while reflecting on the increase in speed, which included four of his personal top six pitches this season. “The team was eager to score early and wanted to keep the opposition off the board. You could feel the energy from the crowd. It’s a huge game atmosphere, and we aimed to harness that.”
Despite giving up nine hits, he found a way to settle in and secure his 17th win of the season, navigating through five innings against the Yankees.
He caught Alex Bregman off guard with a speedy 99 mph fastball in the first inning and struck out Seddane Rafaela with a similar pitch in the subsequent innings, helping to escape tricky situations and leave runners stranded.
This left-handed pitcher also benefitted from strong defensive support and some assistance from the Red Sox during those critical innings.
After a shaky start where he walked the first batter, Nick Sogaard hit a single to left field that allowed Jasson Dominguez to score but then Fried managed a strong fielding play to throw out Nate Eaton at third base.
“I thought his stuff was really good,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone shared. “He typically throws in the 97-98 range. Today, he was hitting 98-99. Fenway tends to do that to players in September.”
The win marked the Yankees’ 33rd consecutive victory, placing them just behind the record of 39 straight wins set between 1926 and 1964 across all major sports.
“This signifies that we’re playing meaningful baseball, especially at this moment in the season,” Boone added. “Our ultimate goal is to reach the postseason and win the World Series, but this level of consistency is impressive. It reflects the hard work put in by everyone involved in this organization, from the front office to the players.”
In terms of team updates, Anthony Volpe is working to recover from a shoulder issue just before Saturday’s game, attempting to make himself available from the bench. Meanwhile, José Caballero started again at shortstop but faces competition for his position with Volpe’s potential return.
