BOSTON – A Special Father’s Day Gift

Just a day before Father’s Day, Hunter Dobbins had a meaningful gift for his dad, Lance. In only his second start, the 25-year-old right-hander pitched six strong innings, leading the Red Sox to a 4-3 victory over the Yankees at Fenway Park.

This win capped off an unforgettable week for Dobbins. He transitioned from a promising rookie who expressed his dislike for the Yankees to outperforming them—especially since he even mentioned his father had been drafted by them. However, a deeper dive by Joel Sherman from the Post revealed that Lance Dobbins never actually played for the Yankees or any of their minor league affiliates, and he wasn’t even familiar with Andy Pettitte.

On Saturday, Hunter underscored how important it was to establish clarity around his father’s background. After struggling against the Yankees previously, he dominated them this time around, allowing only two hits and a walk in an efficient 82-pitch outing. It mirrored his impressive performance from earlier this season when he blanked Kansas City over six innings on May 9.

When asked about the thrill of stepping up against such rivals, Dobbins said, “It was so much fun, but I’m more focused on the win column. My job is to help the team win as many games as possible.” With this victory, the Red Sox improved to a .500 record (36-36).

More than just a score, to Dobbins, it felt great to solidify the team’s momentum. “We’ve won the series and are gaining traction in this race,” he mentioned. “There’s plenty of season left.” His manager echoed this sentiment: “Our goal was to get back to .500. We need to keep playing well to make it to October.”

Dobbins didn’t seem fazed by the Yankees at all. He handled the pressure with ease, even after some hiccups like the error from second baseman Christian Campbell. He worked through situations without much tension, retiring key batters effortlessly.

As this game wrapped up, it was evident that Dobbins had not just won a game—he had also made his father proud.