The New York Yankees’ postseason debut for Max Fried started with brilliance but ended with second-guessing. In Game 1 of the Wild Card series against the Boston Red Sox, the left-hander showcased dominance early before manager Aaron Boone made a pivotal decision that quickly turned the tide.

Fried breezed through the opening three innings, limiting Boston to just two hits while striking out Jaren Duran in a key spot. But as the game wore on, the Red Sox lineup began to chip away, forcing the Yankees’ ace to expend extra energy in high-pressure jams during the middle frames.

Still, the veteran lefty managed to navigate traffic on the bases, getting Alex Bregman to ground out with two men aboard in the fifth and inducing an inning-ending double play in the sixth. At 102 pitches, Fried bel

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