NEW YORK -- Step one is complete. To fulfill their mission of defending their pennant in a return to the World Series, the Yankees first needed to dispatch their most historic rivals. Now they have, securing a 4-0 victory over the Red Sox in Thursday’s Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium.

Boston’s season is over, while the Yankees will pop bottles and celebrate in their home clubhouse -- but not for long. They have miles to cover, set to advance and face the division rival Blue Jays in the AL Division Series, which will begin Saturday at Rogers Centre.

On the 47th anniversary of Bucky Dent’s iconic division-clinching home run, Cam Schlittler outpitched Connelly Early in a Gen Z matchup of rivalry rookies. The flame-throwing Schlittler broke triple digits with his fastba

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