NEW YORK — The Yankees had to win Game 2 of their best-of-three Wild Card Series or else another year of Aaron Judge’s prime would be wasted without a championship.

It looked promising early, but the Red Sox made it a nailbiter on Wednesday night.

A 2-0 first-inning Yankees lead via Ben Rice’s home run became a tie by the third inning, and then a 3-0 lead via a Judge single in the fifth inning was quickly erased by a Red Sox home run a half inning later.

Yankees reliever Fernando Cruz and second baseman Jazz Chisholm rescued Carlos Rodón in the Red Sox’s seventh inning. Chisholm saved a run with a diving stop that resulted in an infield hit instead of a go-ahead single.

The Yankees ultimately prevailed 4-3 to keep their season alive.

Game 3 will be played Thursday night at Yankee S

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