Didi Gregious Hits Grand Slam, Masahiro Tanaka Excellent As New York Takes 2-0 Lead In The ALDS
After taking game one by a score of 10-4 over Minnesota the team that wears the pinstripes then took game two of the American League Division Series as well thanks to Didi Gregious grand slam while winning by a score of 8-2.
Although before that it wasn’t all glory for the shortstop as he had a 1.76 batting average. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/didi-gregorius-grand-slam-vs-twins
As for the rest of the New York offense,
The Yankees thumped right-hander Randy Dobnak, whose past service as an Uber driver provided one of the most interesting storylines of the postseason thus far. Dobnak had to contend with plenty of traffic on the basepaths; Edwin Encarnacion laced a run-scoring single in the first inning, and all three men Dobnak faced in the third inning came around to score. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/didi-gregorius-grand-slam-vs-twins
Giancarlo Stanton greeted Duffey with a sacrifice fly and Gleyber Torres drove home New York’s third run with a hit before Gary Sánchez was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Gregorius’ big swing. As he was two years ago in the AL Wild Card Game against Minnesota, when he erased an early lead with a three-run homer, Gregorius was summoned for a curtain call. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/didi-gregorius-grand-slam-vs-twins
As for the starting pitching,
Masahiro Tanaka continued his dual runs of excellence in the postseason and against the Twins, limiting them to Mitch Garver’s RBI single over five innings. Tanaka scattered three hits while walking one and striking out seven, improving to 6-0 with a 2.21 ERA in six career starts against Minnesota. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/didi-gregorius-grand-slam-vs-twins
The Yankees thumped right-hander Randy Dobnak, whose past service as an Uber driver provided one of the most interesting storylines of the postseason thus far. Dobnak had to contend with plenty of traffic on the basepaths; Edwin Encarnacion laced a run-scoring single in the first inning, and all three men Dobnak faced in the third inning came around to score. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/didi-gregorius-grand-slam-vs-twins
The reward? Having a 2-0 lead in the ALCS.
While New York is up 2-0 in the series Minnesota meanwhile has yet to win a game in the American League Division Series.
A seven-run third inning carried New York to an 8-2 win in Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Saturday night, pushing Minnesota into an 0-2 hole in the best-of-five series. “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/twins-lose-game-2-fall-into-0-2-hole-vs-yanks
The tough loss also pushed the Twins further down the wrong side of the history books, as it marked Minnesota’s 15th straight defeat in the postseason, a Major League record. It is also the 12th consecutive game the Twins have dropped to the Yankees in October, marking the longest playoff losing streak to one opponent in baseball history. “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/twins-lose-game-2-fall-into-0-2-hole-vs-yanks
A comeback is unlikely, but not impossible. In the history of the best-of-five postseason series, 10 out of 81 teams have come back from an 0-2 deficit to win the series. In Division Series with the current 2-2-1 format, three of 30 teams have lost the first two games on the road before surging back to win the series -- most recently the 2017 Yankees. Of those 27 losses, 18 have been sweeps. “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/twins-lose-game-2-fall-into-0-2-hole-vs-yanks
The series will now shift to Minnesota starting Monday night with game three at Target Field.