New York Completes Comeback In The 9th To Edge Houston In The Finale
Remember last season when New York fell one game short in the American League Championship of going to the world series to the same Houston team?
Last season Aaron Boone wasn't even a manager instead he was working for ESPN broadcasting games while Joe Girardi was in that role but after the season he was relieved of his duties.
Thursday afternoon in Houston was a different outcome though for New York as they beat the defending world series champions and won the series although they had to come back to do it.
Gleyber Torres blooped a game-tying two-run single and Aaron Judge knocked home the winning run on a fielder's choice as the Yankees punched back, overcoming the Astros' late push to earn a 6-5 victory at Minute Maid Park, securing their 12th victory in 13 games and capping a 6-1 swing through Anaheim and Houston. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-rally-vs-astros-to-earn-series-win/c-275094668
We compete every day," Torres said. "This team is super good right now. We're on the same page every day, every night. We compete and we try to win every game." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-rally-vs-astros-to-earn-series-win/c-275094668
Down to their final three outs, a walk and two hits loaded the bases against Will Harris. Torres greeted Brad Peacock with a soft fly ball to left field that fell in, chasing home Neil Walker and Miguel Andujar. After a flyout, Judge hit a sharp grounder to the left side of the infield and the Astros were unable to turn the double play as Aaron Hicks trotted home. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-rally-vs-astros-to-earn-series-win/"Our guys never, never mail it in,"
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "They just strung together a lot of quality at-bats late in that game to pull it out. That's a good day right therec-275094668 "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-rally-vs-astros-to-earn-series-win/c-275094668
Aroldis Chapman worked the ninth for the save, though in fitting fashion for this taut series, even that did not come without tension. Chapman struck out pinch-hitter Evan Gattis for what should have been the final out, but it skipped away from catcher Gary Sanchez for a wild pitch. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-rally-vs-astros-to-earn-series-win/c-275094668
George Springer singled to bring up Jose Altuve, at which point Boone said that he nudged infield coach Carlos Mendoza, commenting on what great theatre was taking place in front of them. Chapman's adrenaline spiked, and he pumped three straight 101-mph fastballs past the reigning AL MVP. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-rally-vs-astros-to-earn-series-win/c-275094668
"I had full confidence that Chappy would come through there," Boone said. "He really reached back for a little extra with Altuve." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-rally-vs-astros-to-earn-series-win/c-275094668
Masahiro Tanaka had cruised through six scoreless frames, carrying on the terrific work by a pitching staff that blanked the defending World Series champions over 28 consecutive innings in this series. Two hits and a contested hit by pitch set the table for a four-run Houston rally in the seventh inning. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-rally-vs-astros-to-earn-series-win/c-275094668
With New York leading, 3-0, Yuli Gurriel and Josh Reddick opened the seventh with hits off Tanaka before Alex Bregman claimed to have been hit by an up-and-in sinker that came close to his uniform sleeve. The Yankees challenged, but the call was ruled to stand after review."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-rally-vs-astros-to-earn-series-win/c-275094668
"I think the batters got to the ball well," Tanaka said. "I don't think I had my best stuff, but I felt like I was able to be unpredictable [earlier in the game]." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-rally-vs-astros-to-earn-series-win/c-275094668
Chad Green entered in relief, permitting a run-scoring infield hit to Marwin Gonzalez before Brian McCann ripped an RBI single to right field. Bregman scored the tying run as catcher Sanchez was charged with a passed ball, and Springer brought home the go-ahead run with a groundout to the mound. Carlos Correa hit an eighth-inning homer to make it a 5-3 game. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-rally-vs-astros-to-earn-series-win/c-275094668
Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. struggled early before settling in. The first four Yankees reached base in the second inning against the right-hander, with Ronald Torreyes legging out a run-scoring infield hit and Torres lifting a sacrifice fly. New York extended the lead in the third inning as Didi Gregorius doubled and scored on Walker's RBI single. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-rally-vs-astros-to-earn-series-win/c-275094668
"It's good. We won. That's the most important thing," Torres said. "Everybody does the job. I put in something to help my team. We compete every day." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-rally-vs-astros-to-earn-series-win/c-275094668
SOUND SMART
At 21 years and 141 days, Torres is the youngest Yankee with a three-RBI game since Derek Jeter (20 years, 343 days) drove in three runs in an 11-3 victory over the Angels on June 4, 1995. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-rally-vs-astros-to-earn-series-w
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Torreyes has a knack for doing something to contribute to the effort every time his name is in the lineup. Not only did he drive in the Yankees' first run, but Torreyes soared to make an excellent diving stab to his right in the second inning, taking a hit away from Gurriel.n/c-275094668 "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-rally-vs-astros-to-earn-series-win/c-275094668
HE SAID IT
"It has to do with his preparation. He's a guy that comes here every day and prepares himself very well. That allows him to stay cool in a tough situation."
-- Andujar, on Torres "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-rally-vs-astros-to-earn-series-win/c-275094668
MITEL REPLAY OF THE DAY
The Yankees challenged in the seventh inning after Bregman claimed to have been hit by a Tanaka sinker that came up and in to the right-handed batter. The replay was reviewed for two minutes and 43 seconds, at which time the call was ruled to stand. "according tohttps://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-rally-vs-astros-to-earn-series-win/c-275094668
With the win New York improves to 21-10 and is now one game back in second place behind their rival Boston who is leading the American League East. With the loss Houston who is a member of the American League West drops to 20-13 in the regular season and is second in that division behind the Los Angeles Angels who are leading the division. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/standings
New York will return to the Bronx Friday to open up a three -game series with Cleveland.
CC Sabathia will take the ball against his original team as the Yankees open a three-game series against the Indians on Friday. It is the first meeting between the clubs since the AL Division Series. Josh Tomlin starts for Cleveland in the 7:05 p.m. ET contest. "according tohttps://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-rally-vs-astros-to-earn-series-win/c-275094668