New York Yankees: Revisiting keys to victory after Game One
After the New York Yankees blanked the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the ALCS, it’s time to look back at the keys to the victory.
Play for the big inning: After putting up crooked numbers throughout the AL division series against the Twins, the New York Yankees continued that accomplishment Saturday in Houston. The Bombers scored in four innings in Game 1 of the best-of-seven matchup; in three of those innings, they scored more than one run.
The Yankees were able to score two runs in the 6th inning, two in the 7th inning and two in the 9th inning after scoring one run in the top of the 4th. Thirteen total hits helped the Yankees tack on multiple runs against starter Zack Greinke and relievers Ryan Pressly and Bryan Abreu.
Keep stranded runners to a minimum: As alluded to in the preview, the New York Yankees were the best team in baseball in hitting with runners in scoring position during the regular season. This Yankees team has that grit to them and can buckle down in big situations and keep the line moving.
The Yankees were 3-for-11 w/ RISP Saturday and had two-out RBIs from Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres (2). They did leave seven men on base as a team, but for the most part, it occurred after a run or two was already driven in during the inning. During the regular season, New York left just 6.42 men on base, good for fourth in the league, according to baseball-reference.
Get Gleyber Torres involved: Man, is this guy something special or what. The 22-year-old 2x All-Star has been the star of these playoffs for the New York Yankees. Saturday added another level to his rapidly increasing legacy. Torres was 3-5 with a home run, double, five RBIs and a run scored in Game 1 against Houston. He ended the night with seven total bases and some very impressive historical accolades.
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As mentioned in the broadcast on Fox, Torres is the first second-baseman with one or more RBI in his first four postseason games. During his historic night, Torres also became the youngest AL player since Jimmie Foxx in 1929 to drive in the first run of a postseason game. Lastly, Torres is now the youngest AL player ever with five RBIs in one postseason game.
Take a page from the rival Red Sox: The offensive explosion and brilliance from Masahiro Tanaka made things relatively easy for Yankees manager Aaron Boone in Game 1. Tanaka cruised through six innings, allowing just two runners to reach base while striking out four on just 68 pitches.
The Yankees would take a 5-0 lead in the top of the seventh inning, which made it easier for Boone to turn to his dominating bullpen for the last nine outs. After tacking on two more runs in the 9th to go up 7-0, Boone wisely decided to go with Jonathan Loaisiga to close out the game and rest Aroldis Champan after using Adam Ottavino and Zack Britton.
Be savages: The Yankees dominated this game, no matter which way you look at it. This has to be a huge boost to their already sky-high confidence. Going into Game 2 on Sunday they can look at what they accomplished on the mound, in the box, and the field and know they lived up to this billing.
Tanaka became the first pitcher in MLB postseason history to have seven starts giving up two earned runs or less, according to the Fox broadcast. Gio Urshela jumped on a first-pitch slider in the ninth inning off the rookie Abreu and deposited it into the right-field seats. Aaron Judge made a brilliant play in the outfield gap to double up a stumbling Alex Bregman in the bottom of the fifth inning with a 97.8 MPH throw to first base, according to Fox’s AWS.
Next. Braves should re-sign third baseman Josh Donaldson. dark
The New York Yankees were able to secure a crucial win in Houston during an impressive performance in Game 1. Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday at 8:08 PM ET with the red-hot James Paxton set to square off against future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander.