He has been much better in night games and at home this year, but is facing a juggernaut of a lineup for the first time this season. Mickey Callaway was and remains the Indians pitching coach.
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Girardi chose not to challenge the initial call and left Green in to face Francisco Lindor, who promptly belted a grand slam and enabled the Indians to mount a stunning five-run rally to force extra innings and, eventually, clinch the game. But to suggest that one decision should define Girardi’s future with the Yankees is absurd.
“He helps us win”, Francona said of Brantley, who missed Cleveland’s run to the World Series a year ago following two shoulder surgeries. There were so many things that happened. They tell us we have the 30 seconds.
It would take another five innings of baseball and a walk-off single by Yan Gomes to seal the miraculous win for the Indians. Dawning a tense 10th inning both teams remained scoreless until a breathtaking 13th inning, ultimately concluding a historic electrifying game. The Indians showed yet again that they can beat teams in numerous ways, including making the right trades.
Tanaka’s only other postseason appearance in the majors came two years ago, when he gave up two runs in five innings in a 3-0 loss to Houston, outpitched by Dallas Keuchel.
Though the Astros didn’t need much more than Altuve’s three bombs, they also got two hits apiece from Josh Reddick and Evan Gattis, plus two-run knocks from Marwin Gonzalez and Brian McCann.
Man, what a wild game. It should have been ruled an inning-ending strikeout, but the plate umpire Dan Iassagna called it a hit plate.
So, the Yankees are down two game to none and they must win the two games in NY or the 2017 season ends as soon as today. It’s hard to fathom Cleveland losing three straight games and allowing the series to get away from them.
“That’s the beauty of baseball”, Judge said. “We’ve had tremendous comebacks. Going up, 2-0, against the Yankees going into NY, it’s a good feeling”. Sabathia departed with the Yankees possessing a 8-3 lead, and it seemed likely their elite bullpen would hold on to tie up the series.
Kluber gave up a two-run homer to Gary Sanchez in the first inning and a three-run dinger to Aaron Hicks in the top of the third. The nonchallenge of the Indians’ Lonnie Chisenhall’s hit-batter call in the sixth will sting Yankees fans throughout this winter; but what probably was worse was being too tied to his binder and lifting a cruising Sabathia in that awful inning for no apparent reason, except, well, that was the pregame plan.
The series will now to move to Yankee Stadium, where the Yankees posted a.630 winning percentage during the regular season.
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Weighing the good and Girardi is what discuss with his family after the season. if the Yankees want him back.
