3 things the Yankees must do to win Game 2 against Boston

The Yankees face a must win game against the Red Sox tonight. New York must do these three things to even the series against Boston.

It’s no secret that the Yankees are facing a ton of pressure tonight. If they want to win this series against their arch rivals, they have to even things up before heading back to the Bronx. Exiting Fenway with a split is something Aaron Boone’s team has to do if they want to keep their World Series dreams alive.

Of course, hope without a plan is just a dream. Instead, the Yankees have to focus on the specific things they must improve to overcome the Red Sox tonight. It’s going to take a team effort to even the series, but there are certain players who are facing more scrutiny than others.

Let’s walk through three things the Yankees must do to get back into the series. Watch all of these things closely in tonight’s game if you want to know who’s going to win Game 2.

3. Brett Gardner must be a spark plug

The Yankees wanted to rely on Aaron Hicks in this series, but his injury makes it very unlikely we’ll see him again in the ALDS. That’s going to put Gardner into the starting lineup for Game 2.

The good news for Yankees fans is that Gardner is no stranger to the big stage. He knows what pressure filled games against the Red Sox are all about. He won’t be intimidated by playing a crucial postseason game at Fenway Park.

The question is whether or not Gardner still has what it takes to thrive under the tense October spotlight. If the Yankees are going to win this series, he’ll have to be a thorn in Alex Cora’s side. He doesn’t need to dominate the game with his bat, but he needs to get on base and wreak havoc. The No. 9 hitter isn’t usually a big key for his offense, but Gardner needs to be if the Yankees are going to win tonight.