The New York Yankees took to the mound in the first inning of the second game of the Wild Card game, ahead of the Cleveland Indians one game to nothing. But the early lead in the series was smashed as the Indians overwhelmed New York Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka by scoring four runs in the very first inning. Tanaka remained in the game, hoping along with manager Aaron Boone that the Yankee’s powerful lineup could back him up.
With the Yankees behind 4-1 at the top of the fourth inning, Gio Urshela put the Yankees ahead 5-4, with a Grand Slam, when it was needed most. Then, Carrasco allowed two walks in a row then Carassco’s night on the mound was over. Phil Maton took over for Carrasco with two on and no outs. Ushela been nothing but great for the Yankees. In the game he became the first Yankee third baseman ever, to hit a Grand Slam in the postseason for the Yankees. Aaron Judge was the ninth man of the inning to come to the plate for the Yankees, he flew out, but the Yankee damage was done, and the Yankees led the Indians 5-4.
In the same inning, the Yankees put men on the corners, still with no outs. The runners advanced, and it was a man on second and third with no outs. Giancarlo Stanton flew out, but Hicks scored from third for the Yankees 6-4 lead in the game. Urshela up for the third time singled and they got the lead runner for the force out for the second out of the inning. With Urshela in scoring position, Phil Maton got out of the inning, giving up just the one run, but the Yankees were ahead in an elimination game for the Cleveland Indians.
At the bottom of the fifth inning, Masahiro Tanaka again took the mound for the Yankees with 70 pitches thrown. Chad Green was ready in the inning if Tanaka faltered. He did, and exited the game with the two-run lead. Before the game, DJ LeMahieu and Luke Voit had already made their mark on the season. LeMahieu already gained the batting title with a .364 batting average and Luke Voit captured the home run title with 22 home runs on the season.
With Chad Green in the bottom of the fifth, the Indians tied up the game, when Lindor scored off of a double by Ramirez. But Green got out of the inning by striking out two Indian batters and leaving the score tied at six apiece, when the Indians Ramirez flew out to Aaron Judge in right field.
At the top of the 6th, Gary Sanchez regained the lead for the Yankees with a two-run home run off of Indians reliever McKenzie. Yankees 8 and the Indians 6. Down 8-6 and their postseason in jeopardy of a quick ending, the Indians tied it in the seventh on pinch-hitter Jordan Luplow’s two-out, two-run double off right-hander Jonathan Loaisgia. The Indians went ahead again in the eight inning for the 9-8 Indian lead
At the botton of the eighth inning, Gio Urshela turned an amazing double play while laying on the ground, that play saved the Yankees, and kept the Yankees within one. In the top of the ninth with the bases loaded Gary Sanchez popped out on a long fly ball driving in a run and the score was tied at 9. DJ LeMahieu got a ground ball base hit through the pitchers legs and into center field, Gio Urshela scored for the Yankee’s 10-9 lead. At the bottom of the inning Aroldis Chapman, in his second inning of work, got the save and the win for the Yankees. Brad Hand took the loss for the Indians.
In an absolute war in Cleveland, the New York Yankees came away with the sweep of the Indians in the Wild Card, in a game that saw a record tying 19 walks, two rain delays, and the lead going back and forth throughout the four hour and 50 minute game. But, with the win the Yankees advanced to the ALDS at Petco Park in San Diego on Monday. The Yankees are now seven wins away from a 28th World Championship. The Yankees were jubilant but did not celebrate on the field, instead, did their usual line of fist pumps.
After the game Aaron Boone, manager of the Yankees had this to say:
“I don’t know how you top that one — the back and forth, the amount of big plays. Tonight just had that feeling that these guys weren’t going to be denied. They weren’t going to lose.”
On Monday, in San Diego, the New York Yankees will face the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series, in a seven game matchup between two teams, that to say the least, don’t care for each other. The Yankees were 2-8 against the Rays in the regular season. The Yankees will have workout today, and later fly to San Diego.