NEW YORK – What a difference a day makes. On Tuesday, Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. was upset that he started Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Red Sox on the bench. Manager Aaron Boone wanted the right-handed hitting Amed Rosario to face the tough left-hander, Garrett Croshet, instead.

Chisholm was able to get over the benching by playing  “MLB: The Show,” in his place of residence that same night.  He put a team together called the New York Aliens. The roster included Ken Griffey Jr. and Jimmy Rollins. The Aliens were dominant, beating their opponent, 12-1.

With a new attitude on Wednesday, Chisholm was back at Yankee Stadium and proved to be a difference maker in New York’s 4-3 victory over Boston to tie the series at a game apiece.  His defense, plate discipline and base running is the reason this series is going to Game 3.

Chisolm’s exploits started in the seventh inning with the game tied at 3. The Red Sox had runners on first and second with two outs and Fernando Cruz on the mound. Masataka Yoshida entered the game as a pinch hitter and hit a ground ball that looked like it was going to go past Chisholm for a base hit, but Chisholm made a diving stop to his right, unable to throw out Yoshida but preventing Nate Eaton from scoring. With the bases loaded, Trevor Story flew out to Trent Grisham in deep center field to end the threat.

“For me, you know what’s going on, it is a 3-2 count, runner on second base, runner on third base. They are moving,” Chisholm said. “You see a ground ball, you got to stop it. You have to keep it in the infield. … I felt at that point it would have been a really crucial run. I was doing what I could to keep the ball in the infield, not trying to make the play at first base. … I caught the ball, I was like maybe I could make it at first base. At the end of the day, it is stopping that run from scoring.”

An inning later with two outs, Chisholm’s patience paid off against Red Sox reliever Garett Whitlock. It took seven pitches for Chisholm to work out a walk. Austin Wells followed and singled near the right-field corner. Once he saw the ball bouncing around near the right-field line, Chisholm knew he had to score. He ended up scoring head first for the one-run lead.

“He didn’t get the jump to be able to steal a base there, but obviously moving on the pitch gave him a little bit of a head start. And, you know, his speed comes into play – big time – there,” Boone said.

It appears the disagreement over the benching on Tuesday is behind Chisholm and Boone. It’s not their first argument.. Earlier in the season, Chisholm thought his days as a third baseman were behind him, but there he was at the hot corner to start the season while DJ LeMahieu was getting most of the playing time at second. Now, with LeMahieu off the roster, Chisholm is happy as the every day second baseman.

“There is never a problem between me and Aaron Boone,” Chisholm said. “He’s been my manager all year, and I’ve stood behind him all year. We always have disagreements. I mean, I played third base this year, and we had a little bit of a disagreement about that. But at the end of the day, I always stand with Booney because he always understands where I come from. He knows I am a passionate player. He knows I wear my feelings on my sleeve. He knows I am there to compete.”