What Red Sox, Yankees said of squirrel who took over Friday’s game

It wasn’t something he did that made Jhostynxon Garcia’s MLB debut memorable.

A creature wanted to greet the Red Sox rookie when he took the bat for the second time in his career during Friday’s 1-0 victory over the Yankees. As Garcia entered the batter’s box, a squirrel collided with his right leg.

Members of the Yankees recognized the squirrel, but Garcia did not. The game was postponed for a moment while Max Fried, the opening pitcher for the Yankees, peered at the squirrel.

Garcia eventually noticed the squirrel.

Through the team’s interpreter, Garcia told reporters of the incident, “Really, that’s going to happen to me in my MLB debut, that’s unbelievable.”

At Yankee Stadium, there is a squirrel on the loose!lz2gcSwsVL pic.twitter.com/

It appeared as though the squirrel had the Yankee Stadium infield to itself. After about a minute of running around the diamond, it broke free and headed for the crowd.

With the squirrel scurrying around, Yankees players were in defensive mode while Garcia was in shock over the situation.

Fried told reporters that was the first time it had ever happened to him. “Don’t do anything that might embarrass you,” was my initial thought. It came directly to me and into the small hole I made on the mound, even though I had assumed it would just run around.

Ben Rice, the first baseman for the Yankees, moved aside to make room for the squirrel, and his social media response to the incident went viral.

Rice remarked, “I didn’t want to touch that thing.” I’m getting a lot of flak from the men for it. Why does a squirrel frighten you? I have no idea where that thing has gone. It gave me a little noise.

Fried got along better with the squirrel, but he also wanted the animal to move.

I believe I once simply said, “Okay, buddy, let’s go,” Fried said. He simply carried out his duties. It’s all in good humor, but it is undoubtedly a touch odd.

Neither team was able to use the squirrels rushing around the diamond as a rallying cry. Garcia did not score despite walking later in the at-bat. In the eighth inning, Boston finally scored the game’s lone run.

Nevertheless, during baseball’s most intense rivalry—in which both clubs are fighting for a postseason spot—the squirrel stole the show.

According to Red Sox manager Alex Cora, someone will turn it into a shirt and profit handsomely tomorrow.

Additionally, the Red Sox social media crew enjoyed the moment by sharing a picture of the squirrel on X along with the phrase, “Wafter they secured the win.”