Yankees' Aaron Boone Talks Taking Criticism to Protect Players, 'That's My Job'

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone doesn't shy away from absorbing any criticism that comes his way to protect his own players from hearing it.

After the Yankees kept their season alive with a 4-3 win over the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of the AL wild card series on Wednesday, Boone told The Athletic's Ian O'Connor he considers taking all the slings and arrows from fans and media as his main role.

"That's my job," Boone said. "My job is not to save face or make myself look good."

Being the manager of the Yankees immediately makes you a target because the expectation is always to win the World Series, especially since everyone in the Bronx is on edge that they haven't won a title since 2009.

Boone also made himself a target for criticism in Game 1 when he opted to start Amed Rosario, a right-handed hitter, at second base instead of Jazz Chisholm Jr. with the Red Sox sending left-handed ace Garrett Crochet to the mound.

Chisholm, who did get in the game for a pinch-hit appearance in the ninth, didn't seem to take the move well based on his postgame comments to the media.

Boone redeemed himself with a stellar managerial effort in Game 2. Chisholm was back in the lineup and made the key play of the game when he scored the go-ahead run from first in the bottom of the eighth on Austin Wells' single off Garrett Whitlock.

New York's bullpen, which has been a shaky unit all season and gave up three runs in 2.2 innings in Game 1, bounced back on Wednesday with three scoreless innings.

Boone and the Yankees can't breathe easy yet coming off a dramatic win because they need one more victory over their biggest rival to reach the American League Division Series.

Game 3 will feature a matchup of rookie pitchers, with Connelly Early starting for Boston and Cam Schlittler getting the nod for New York. First pitch from the Bronx will be at 8:08 p.m. ET on Thursday.

The winner will advance to the ALDS to take on the Toronto Blue Jays.