What if I told you before the game started, Clayton Kershaw would add a loss to his record and Domingo German would go 6 solid innings for the New York Yankees, giving up only 1 run to the Los Angeles Dodgers? More than likely, you probably would’ve thought I was delusional and should never make any predictions again. Well, this just so happened on Sunday night in the gorgeous city of LA.
DJ LeMahieu led the charge in the top of the 1st by blasting a lead-off homer on the 3rd pitch, traveling 409 feet with an exit velocity of 102.9 MPH. Joc Pederson followed in the bottom of the 1st, launching an absolute missile on the 1st pitch, tying the game up. German proceeded throughout the game in a bounce-back fashion, limiting the Dodgers to 5 hits, 1 run, and 2 walks in 6 innings. He also collected 5 strikeouts and improved his overall numbers, posting a 4.03 ERA, 4.74 FIP, and a 1.14 WHIP.
In the top of the 3rd, Aaron Judge broke the tie by hammering a solo homer to deep center field, traveling 404 feet with an exit velocity of 104.6 MPH. Brett Gardner made the most of his athletic abilities in the bottom of the 3rd, leaping into the air and robbing Corey Seager of a 2-run double. This spectacular catch alone shifted the entire momentum of the game. German and Gary Sanchez also recorded a well-drawn out, strike ’em out, throw ’em out in the bottom of the 5th.
Mike Ford, who was 2 for 3 on the night, crushed a solo bomb to right-center field in the top of the 6th, traveling 384 feet with an exit velocity of 101.9 MPH. Adam Ottavino and Tommy Kahnle made quick work of the Dodgers offense in the bottom of the 7th, retiring the side on 3 strikeouts, including 2 nasty Wiffle ball-like sliders from Adam Ottavino. Ford continued to show off his full potential in the top of the 8th, recording an RBI double to left field. Last, but certainly not least, Gio Urshela waved his magic bat and collected an RBI flare just beyond the outfield grass.
The dominant, flame-throwing torch known as Aroldis Chapman, pumped gas in the bottom of the 9th. After giving up a lead-off walk, Chapman struck out Chris Taylor, Enrique Hernandez and Will Smith (not the actor Will Smith) in order, granting the New York Yankees a 5-1, victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
This series was intense from the moment it started, till the very end. The Yankees proved they’re not an organization to ignore and have more than ample firepower to beat the best teams in baseball. The offense performed sufficiently vs. Ryu, adequately vs. Kershaw and exposed the Dodgers’ capabilities. Cody Bellinger, who is an NL MVP candidate, was shut down the entire series and went 1 for 10 with 6 strikeouts. The starting pitching, which has been mediocre this season, held the Dodgers to 5 runs in 3 games. To put this incredible achievement into perspective, the Dodgers are 4th in the league for runs scored, while the New York Yankees starting rotation is 19th in the league.
I’m proud of this team and so should everyone else. While the endless amount of banter on social media raged on, spilling their narratives on why the New York Yankees had no chance to win the series and/or a game, the Yanks remained focused and finished the job with excellence. The Yanks now possess an 85-47 (.644) record and are tied with the Houston Astros for the best record in the American League. While the race for the Commissioner’s Trophy is far from over, seizing a 3-game series from the Dodgers is a step into the right direction.