The Yankees crushed the Red Sox in a 9-0 rout in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, putting Boston in immediate do-or-die mode in the best-of-three series.  The chances of a comeback will be more difficult if Roman Anthony isn’t available, and his status is now in question after an early exit in Game 1.

Anthony (hitting leadoff as the DH) struck out twice against New York ace Cam Schlittler, accounting for two of the 10 punchouts Schlittler delivered over 6 1/3 dominant shutout innings.  For Anthony’s third at-bat in the top of the sixth, Andruw Monasterio instead came to the plate to pinch-hit.

Postgame, manager Chad Tracy told the Boston Herald’s Gabrielle Starr (multiple links) and other reporters that Anthony’s right hand “flared on him” and felt “uncomfortable” following checked swings during both plate appearances.  The continued nature of the discomfort led the manager to pull Anthony from the lineup.  So soon after Game 1’s conclusion, Tracy noted “it’s hard to say right now” if Anthony will be available for Wednesday’s Game 2.

Anthony played in only 55 games this season due to problems with that same right hand.  Placed on the 10-day injured list on May 5 with what was initially described as a wrist sprain, Anthony’s injury was really a partially torn tendon in his right ring finger, and he wasn’t able to return to action until August 30.  Anthony hit a respectable .262/.321/.476 in 112 PA after returning from the IL and mostly played in the outfield, so it seemed like the injury was behind him entering the postseason.

The uncertainty leaves the Red Sox in a difficult spot.  If this was the regular season, Anthony would almost surely be benched for at least a game given the recurring soreness in a previously-injured body part.  Playing with just 25 men in a must-win Game 2, however, obviously puts the Sox at a disadvantage.  So if there’s real concern over Anthony’s ability to play at all, Boston could remove Anthony from the roster for an injury replacement.  Such a move would mean that Anthony couldn’t play again until the ALCS, yet that’s a trade-off the Red Sox may have to consider to help their chances of just getting out of the first round.