NEW YORK (AP) — A squirrel ran onto the field during Friday night’s game between the Yankees and the Red Sox and caused a brief delay.

The swashbuckling squirrel then inspected Fried’s foot hole on the mound before darting toward Ben Rice at first base. Rice, too, was initially statue-esque, but he ultimately jumped away as the squirrel grew near.

Lefthander Steven Matz, a 34-year-old Stony Brook native, is a new member of the Red Sox after being traded by the Cardinals ahead of last month’s deadline. A career starter who spent his first six seasons with the Mets, Matz has transitioned to a relief role — at least for now.

As the Red Sox try to pick up their second win in as many nights Friday in the Bronx, they’ll do so with their newest player making his major league debut in center field.

A squirrel ran onto the field during Friday night’s game between the Yankees and the Red Sox and caused a brief delay. The fast-moving mammal emerged from an area behind the plate in the fourth inning and stopped behind Boston rookie Jhostynxon Garcia’s left foot as the outfielder took a timeout and adjusted his batting gloves.

The New York Yankees face the Boston Red Sox on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025 (8/22/25) at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.

Less than 25 minutes before first pitch, the Red Sox announced a new defensive alignment for Friday’s game against the Yankees

Buehler is averaging fewer strikeouts and more walks per nine innings than he has in his previous seven MLB seasons.