In between the Pinstripes #38

In Between the Pinstripes_38: On to Houston
What a game, what a series, what a ball club. Great team win from top to bottom. Didi Gregorius hit two HUGE homers to give the Yankees the lead early in the game and deliver the knockout punch to the potential Cy Young winner in the AL. C.C. did all he could before handing the ball off to Robertson who shut the door in the 5th with a big double play to end the inning. Brett Gardner had the at-bat of the year—a 12 pitch at-bat, fouling off five pitches in a 3-2 and serving up two insurance runs in the top of the 9th.

Down two games to none, facing a pitching staff that just owned the Yankees bats threw the first two I had dwindling confidence heading into Game 3. After barely sneaking through Game 3 thanks to a Greg Bird moon shoot homer and the best start Tanaka has had in a Yankee uniform, the Yanks were back in the series. Severino has almost destined to win Game 4 following his implosion in the Wild Card game against Minnesota, so it really was all hands-on deck for Game 5.    

Cleveland tested the will of the bombers, and this resilient bunch responded every single time. Heartbreak on Friday night has turned into exuberance tonight. Excitement and determination has taken over a fanbase that was just hoping for a good series. This is a team that you almost always count out and they fight back into it. This is my favorite team to watch since I started watching baseball, and this is my favorite Yankee team because, how can you not love this team?

That being said, the task at hand has gone from maybe put up a fight and make some noise against Cleveland to give it your all the rest of the way.

This is the first time the Yankees have been in the Championship Series 2012 (I know it’s been that long) and, Houston will be tough, they are a very good team. Jose Altuve is batting .681 with 3 homers and 4 RBI’s so far this year in the post season and will be a throne in the Yanks side all series. Dallas Keuchel still gives me nightmares after the 2015 Wild Card game where he absolutely shut the bombers. But, this is a different team, and if the bombers can battle Verlander (who they’ve owned throughout the year’s) and Keuchel and get to Houston’s pen the Yanks have a real good chance at making it to the World Series. Verlander in his career against the Yanks has gone 6-7 with a 3.87 ERA in 111.2 innings with a modest .266 batting average, but has given up 18 homers in 18 games against the Yanks.


Everything thus far through the playoffs has been an overachievement, just enjoy the ride and route like hell for 28! 

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