When Major League Baseball added non-division winning teams to the playoffs they decided to call them wild card teams and wild sure described the start of last nights game between the Minnesota Twins and the New York Yankees.
The Yankees decided to go with their young ace Luis Severino as the starter for this game. It started off rough for Severino as Twins lead off man Brian Dozier hit a home run to put the Twins up 1-0 right away. After Joe Mauer fouled out there was a thought that Severino was going to settle in, but after a walk to Jorge Polanco, Eddie Rosario hit a two run home run to rightfield to give the Twins a early 3-0 lead. Eduardo Escobar singled Max Kepler doubled and that was it for Severino. Chad Green came out of the Yankees bullpen to get out of the 2nd and 3rd jam and keep it a 3-0 game.
You would’ve thought the Twins would have some confidence heading into the bottom of the 1st inning, but one swing of the bat evened the game up. Brett Gardner drew a walk off of Twins starter Ervin Santana. Aaron Judge followed with a single to put runners on 1st and 3rd. Gary Sanchez fouled out for the first out of the inning. Didi Gregorius got the Yankees right back in the game with a 3-run home run to even the score at 3-3. Santana got did walk a hitter, but got out of the 1st with no more damage.
The Twins went down 1,2,3 in the top of the 2nd and after the first two Yankees flew out to centerfield to start the bottom of the 2nd Gardner gave the Yankees a 4-3 lead on a solo home run to rightfield. A ground out ended the inning with the Yankees up 4-3.
Green ran into some trouble in the top of the 3rd. A single and then two walks sandwiching a fly out and the Twins had the bases loaded with just one out. Bryon Buxton grounded into a fielder’s choice to tie the game at 4-4. That ended Green’s night as David Robertson was up next out of the Yankees bullpen. Buxton stole 2nd to out runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs, but Jason Castro struck out to end the inning for the Twins with the score 4-4.
Jose Berrios relieved Santana to start the bottom of the 3rd inning and was greeted with a lead off double by Sanchez. After two strikeouts Greg Bird came through with a two out single to bring Sanchez home and give the Yankees the lead for good at 5-4. Aaron Hicks did have an infield single, but with runners 1st and 2nd Jacob Ellsbury fouled out to end the inning.
The Yankees added two run off Berrios in the bottom of the 4th. Todd Frazier stuck out to start the inning. Gardner singled to get on base for the third consecutive time in the game. Judge then hit a 2-run home run to leftfield to put the Yankees up 7-4.
The Yankees added their final run of the game in the bottom of the 7th inning. Judge walked off of Trevor Hildenberger to start the inning. Sanchez singled with Judge going to 3rd. Sanchez was able to advance to 2nd on an error to out runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Gregorius walk intentionally walked to load the bases. Castro flew out for the first out of the inning. Taylor Rogers came out of the Twins bullpen to strikeout Bird for the second out of the inning. The Twins went to the bullpen again this time for Alan Busenitz. Hicks worked a walk off of Busenitz to force in Judge and make it a 8-4 game. Ellsbury flew out to end the inning.
With Severino lasting just 1/3rd of an inning the Yankees bullpen really stepped up. Green pitched 2 innings followed by Robertson who worked 3 1/3rd innings. Tommy Kahnle pitched 2 1/3rd inning while Aroldis Chapman pitched the final inning.
The Yankees move on to face the Cleveland Indians in Game 1 of the ALDS on Thursday. The Yankees have yet to announce who their starting pitcher will be, but you have to wonder what they’re thinking about doing with Severino. Severino was 14-6 in 31 starts with a 2.98 E.R.A. during the regular season, but none of that came through in his first post season start. The Yankees will have to figure out if it was just a case of nerves or quite possible if the stage was just too big for Severino.
The Yankees could go with Masahiro Tanaka, C.C. Sabathis and Sonny Gray before they might have to go back to Severino. Of course coming off of such a short outing where he only threw 30 pitches Severino should be available out of the bullpen if needed. Would the Yankees go as far as taking Severino out of the rotation and use Jordan Montgomery in his spot.
While we’re on the Yankees/Indians series, Cleveland did something interesting with their starting rotation as well. It would seem obvious that Corey Kluber would take the mound for Game 1 of any series the Indians are in, but for the ALDS it will be Trevor Bauer getting the Game 1 start followed by Kluber in Game 2. Cleveland is doing this to keep Kluber on his regular rest. This would also make him available for a Game 5 start in the ALDS or possibly a Game 1 start in the ALCS.
Let’s take a look at our NFL picks for Week 4. Schaumburg Stu took the week going 10-6. Dan the Man was right behind him at 9-7 while Mr. Fantasy and I finished the week at 8-8. For the season Schaumburg Stu is in the lead at 39-24. Dan the Man is two games behind him at 37-26. I’m currently holding down 3rd place with a record of 36-27 while Mr. Fantasy is at the bottom right now with a record of 35-28. We’ll see how Week 5 goes for us.
As you know we make our picks on the Sunday Sports Time Radio podcast. Some how every team that I picked to win that was playing in a Noon game lost. I don’t think I’ve ever had anything like that happen to me before.
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