Posted on 10/13/2019 6:55:59 AM PDT by oh8eleven
HOUSTON — There are no ghosts here for Gleyber Torres. The 22-year-old had not even had his first major league at-bat when the Yankees came here in 2017 and lost every game of the American League Championship Series in this ballpark.
But the Yankees’ second baseman certainly chased away any demons that were lingering here for his teammates. Torres drove in five runs and Masahiro Tanaka threw six scoreless, one-hit dominant innings as the Yankees shut out the Astros 7-0 in Game 1 of the ALCS at Minute Maid Park.
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This was one of those very rare cases where Game 1 in a series was a “must-win” game for one of the teams. The Yankees really had to win this game because it might end up being one of only two games in the series where the pitching matchup favors them.
In addition, the Nat's annual injury blitz came early rather than late. They lost Trea Turner, Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman for long stretches early on, and Max Scherzer pitched himself into trouble in August. The Nats have had a couple of potential World Series contenders in recent years dismantled by late season injuries. This year, they got that over early and everyone is back.
(Well, Victor Robles is nursing a hamstring … but Michael A Taylor, always an excellent defensive player, seems to have found his bat again. With Michael A., a hot streak at the plate never lasts long, but I predict this one will last through the World Series.)
Signs from God, I tell you. If only they had a bullpen.... They've got great starting pitching and two pretty good closers. In between, it's a dumpster fire. If they can walk that tightrope, it will be a year to remember.
We are the Champions!
Verlander gives up home runs—I would expect he will do so in this series.
Cole is another story.
Yankees in 5.
After Sanchez’ performance Friday night I’m starting to believe.
Quite a night for Torres, in what for all intents and purposes is the real World Series between the two best teams in baseball.
Be thankful, Nats fans, that you have Dave Martinez managing and not Dusty. You never would have made it with Dusty... and maybe the same could be said of Bryce Harper. JMHO.
Following up on our conversation from yesterday, notice that five of the seven runs weren’t scored on the long ball.
Wait, the Astros are in the AL?
Damn, things have changed since Peter Angelos drove me away from my beloved and ruined Orioles, the least of which is that the Astros are now in the AL. Now someone tells me they won the WS?
And I thought it was only politics that are upside down. Next thing will be that I hear that the Patriots won another Super Bowl. No way.
It would have been nice to see them scratch a single run across the plate late in the game, for sure.
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