YANKEES ADVANCE TO ALDS VS. BLUE JAYS 

Thursday night the Yankees won the AL wild card series against longtime rivals the Boston Red Sox. It was a historic night as a new Yankees star was born - Rookie Cam Schlittler.

 

Here’s a recap of the series:

 

Game 1 was a battle of each teams’ number one starter, Garret Crochet vs. Max Fried. Crochet allowed 1 run and struck out 11 in 7 2/3 innings. Fried pitched 6 1/3 shut out innings with 6 strikeouts. The Yankees lone run was a home run by Anthony Volpe in the second inning. Luke Weaver came in to relieve Fried in the seventh inning and allowed 2 runs on a single by Masataka Yoshida. Another run scored off David Bednar in the ninth inning and the Red Sox won 3-1. The Yankees had the bases loaded in the ninth inning but couldn’t score any runs. Aaron Boone was criticized after the game for sitting out Ben Rice and Jazz Chisholm Jr. Chisholm did pinch hit for Amed Rosario late in the game but fans questioned why two of the Yankees hottest hitters weren’t in the game. Also missing was Ryan McMahon. 

 

Game 2, Ben Rice, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ryan McMahon were back in the lineup. Brayan Bello allowed 2 runs in 2 1/3 innings before being pulled. Carlos Rodon allowed 3 runs on 4 hits and struck out 6 in six innings. The Red Sox used 6 more pitchers to close out the game. The Yankees scored first with a 2 run home run by Ben Rice in his first post season at bat. The Red Sox tied the game in the third inning when 2 runs scored on a single by Trevor Story. Aaron Judge hit a RBI single in the fifth inning to give the Yankees the lead but it was a short lead as the Red Sox tied it again the next inning with a home run by Story. In the eighth inning with 2 outs Jazz Chisholm Jr. walked. Next at bat was Austin Wells who hit a single to right field and Chisholm ran from first to home plate and slid in for a run. David Bednar pitched the ninth inning and 1-2-3, the Yankees won 4-3. Fans were elated to see that not only were Rice and Chisholm back in the lineup but they were the ones contributing to the win. 

 

Game 3 was the decision game and the battle of rookie pitchers. Now you already know who won but here’s how it happened. Connelly Early allowed 4 runs (3 earned) and struck out 6 in 3 1/3 innings. Cam Schlittler pitched 8 shutout innings with 12 strikeouts and no walks. He only allowed 5 hits. He became the first MLB player to have these stats in a post season. The Yankees won 4-0. All four runs were scored in the fourth inning. Cody Bellinger hit a double and Giancarlo Stanton walked. Amed Rosario hit a RBI single. Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a single. Anthony Volpe hit a RBI single. Two more runs scored on a single by Austin Wells and a fielding error. The Yankees got a few more batters on base throughout the remainder of the game but couldn’t deliver anymore runs. David Bednar pitched the ninth inning. He walked the first batter, the next batter grounded into a fielder’s choice, the next struck out swinging and the last batter popped up a foul ball to Ryan McMahon to end the game. In a prior inning McMahon, who came into the game late, also made a running catch of a foul ball diving head first into the Red Sox dugout to get an out. 

 

The Yankees will now face the Toronto Blue Jays in a best of 5 series for the American League Division Series. They’ve had their struggles against the Blue Jays this season but have also won some games and the Blue Jays are without Jose Berrios this post season. Chris Bassitt is also returning from injury. So we Yankee fans should be hopeful they can win this series. 

 

Here’s the proposed ALDS schedule:

 

Saturday, Oct. 4: Game 1, Yankees at Blue Jays, 4:08 p.m., FOX. RHP Luis Gil vs. RHP Shane Bieber.

Sunday, Oct. 5: Game 2, Blue Jays at Yankees, 4:08 p.m., FS1. LHP Max Fried vs. RHP Kevin Gausman. 

Tuesday, Oct. 7: Game 3, Blue Jays at Yankees. RHP Max Scherzer or RHP Chris Bassitt vs. LHP Carlos Rodon.

Wednesday, Oct. 8: Game 4, Yankees at Blue Jays, if necessary. Max Scherzer or RHP Chris Bassitt vs. RHP Cam Schlittler.

Friday, Oct. 10: Game 5, Yankees at Blue Jays, if necessary. Shane Bieber vs. LHP Max Fried.

On the other side of the American League, the Detroit Tigers will play the Seattle Mariners  

Let’s go Yankees!!!