Aroldis Chapman Serves Up Game Winning Homer To Jose Altuve Of Houston As New York's Season Comes To Disappointing End In The ALCS

A season filled with adversity came to a rather disappointing conclusion for the team that wears the pinstripes.

DJ LeMahieu tied the game with a ninth-inning homer, but José Altuve hit a walk-off blast off Aroldis Chapman to secure the pennant as the Astros handed the Yankees a 6-4 defeat in Game 6 of the ALCS. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-thriller-to-astros-in-alcs-game-6

This marks the first decade since the 1910s that the Yankees were unable to reach the World Series, with their last championship having been secured in 2009. New York posted the best regular-season winning percentage in the decade (.569), and the Yanks were tied with the Dodgers for the most playoff appearances in the 2010s (seven). “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-thriller-to-astros-in-alcs-game-6

The Yankees trailed throughout most of the contest, with Yuli Gurriel's first-inning three-run homer off opener Chad Green putting the bubbly on ice in the home clubhouse. Frequently referred to as the Yanks’ MVP, LeMahieu refused to allow the evening to slip away that easily, even when they were down to their final two outs against Roberto Osuna.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-thriller-to-astros-in-alcs-game-6

LeMahieu engaged Houston's closer in a 10-pitch battle, fouling off five pitches before stunning the orange-towel-waving crowd of 43,357 by driving a two-run homer just past a leaping attempt by right fielder George Springer. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-thriller-to-astros-in-alcs-game-6

Chapman was summoned for the home half of the ninth, the seventh Yankees pitcher in a battle of the bullpens. After a two-out walk to Springer, Altuve pounced on a 2-1 slider, pummeling a drive 407 feet over the wall in left-center field that secured the third pennant in Astros history.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-thriller-to-astros-in-alcs-game-6

Gary Sánchez had trimmed the deficit with a run-scoring single in the second inning off opener Brad Peacock, representing a rare hit with runners in scoring position -- the Yankees finished the ALCS 6-for-35 in those situations. Gio Urshela drew New York within a run with a fourth-inning solo homer off rookie Jose Urquidy. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-thriller-to-astros-in-alcs-game-6

J.A. Happ and Luis Cessa each pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Green. As the Yankees handed the game to their higher-leverage arms, Alex Bregman grounded into a fielder’s choice that pushed across a sixth-inning run off Tommy Kahnle, the first Yanks reliever to work a third consecutive day this season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-thriller-to-astros-in-alcs-game-6

While New York’s season ended in disappoint Houston is celebrating and advancing to the World Series where they will host Washington for game one starting Tuesday night.

Altuve crushed an Aroldis Chapman slider and hit a towering walk-off two-run homer in the ninth inning to score George Springer for a 6-4 win over the Yankees in Game 6 on Saturday night at raucous Minute Maid Park. The Astros won the best-of-seven series, 4-2, to punch their ticket to the World Series for the second time in three seasons. “according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/jose-altuve-walk-off-homer-clinches-al-pennant-for-astros

New York will open the 2020 season on March 26 at Camden Yards against Baltimore who like New York is a member of the American League East.