BOSTON — It’s been an eventful week for pitcher Hunter Dobbins. Last weekend, he made headlines by declaring he would retire before pitching for the Yankees, referencing his father’s history of being drafted twice by New York before being traded. Fast forward a few days, and Dobbins found himself facing the Yankees on the mound.
Despite the stir caused by his pointed comments and the subsequent defense of his father’s story—an origin point scrutinized by a New York Post article disputing the Yankees’ own records—Dobbins maintained his focus on the game. This paid off when he delivered six strong innings on Saturday night, leading Boston to a tight 4-3 victory over New York. This marked his second win against the team within a week.
Dobbins emphasized his dedication to the team’s success over personal rivalries. “My main concern is helping this team rack up the wins, whether that’s against the Yankees or anyone else,” he explained. He further highlighted his desire to contribute to the team’s playoff ambitions, underscoring his commitment to Boston’s overall objective rather than the historic Red Sox-Yankees rivalry.
However, he also acknowledged the thrill of defeating a rival team, appreciating the emotional victory alongside the fervent support of Boston fans. “The fans truly deserve these wins,” he mentioned, appreciating their passion and enthusiasm. Securing two wins in a week against such a storied adversary was meaningful, and Dobbins expressed his intent to sustain this momentum.
In his initial matchup last Sunday, Dobbins succeeded over the Yankees, limiting them to three runs across five innings, though he conceded two from a first-inning Aaron Judge homer. On Saturday, however, Judge was unable to replicate his previous success, going hitless in three at-bats, succumbing to two curveball strikeouts from Dobbins.
Dobbins showed careful preparation in his strategy against the Yankees, particularly Aaron Judge. After observing teammate Garrett Crochet strike out Judge three times with speed in the series opener, Dobbins opted for a different approach. “We tailored a strategy that fit my pitching style,” he said. His tactics resulted in Judge’s difficulties, as Dobbins efficiently blended his pitches to keep the Yankees lineup off-balance.
On Saturday, Dobbins achieved five strikeouts and allowed only two singles, underscoring his effective and calculated performance against one of baseball’s most storied franchises.