I New York Yankees they do not betray expectations and they beat the Kansas City Royals in four gamesqualifying for Championship Series after two years and for the twentieth time in their history.
The Yankees, having earned the bye by winning their division, waited for the Kansas City Royals directly in the ALDS and did not lose their rhythm, as usually happens in the other league.
The Royals were competitive especially in the first two games, while in game 3 and game 4 it all came out the completeness and talent of the Bronx teamalso thanks to a super bullpen that has not allowed any earned runs on the pitcher throughout the series.
We are 1 sees the starters in Gerrit Cole for NY and Michael Wacha for KC, but both immediately concede a lot at bat: in the third inning Gleyber Torres’ two-run home run responds to Tommy Pham’s sacrifice fly, 2-1 Yankees.
In the fourth inning MJ Melendez does the same thing and his two-run home run gives the Royals the lead again at 3-2. In the fifth Wacha fills the bases and two bases on consecutive balls bring the Yankees to 4-3, but this overtaking doesn’t last long either: a hit to the left fielder by Garrett Hampson brings home Gurriel and Pham for yet another change in scoring leadership5-4 Kansas City. In the bottom of the sixth, a single by Austin Wells made it 5-5, sending in Alex Verdugo.
Ma the decisive turning point of the game occurs in the next inning: Jazz Chisholm Jr he tries to steal second base and the umpires call it safe, but the replay clearly shows that Michael Massey touched Jazz’s foot before it reached the cushion.
The Royals call the challenge, but the referees sensationally do not change the decision and Chisholm is safe on the second base cushion. This decision changes the game, because Verdugo sends the former Marlins player home with a single, 6-5. The Royals don’t score again and Luke Weaver gets the save in Game 1.
Per the second game Carlos Rodon is the starter for the Yankees, while Wild Card MVP Cole Ragans is the starter for the Royals. Rodon starts very well and seems to win the match against Ragans, who concedes an RBI single to Giancarlo Stanton, silent in game 2. Then Rodon begins to falter and in the fourth inning he goes into total confusion: Salvador Perez’s game-tying home run and then three consecutive singles that bring home as many runs. 4-1 Royals in no time.
The Yankees struggled at bat throughout the rest of the game, totaling only two hits against the excellent Royals bullpen. Of those two hits, one was Chisholm’s home run to make it 4-2 in the ninth inning, useless for the score. The Royals tie the series at 1-1.
Per we are 3 we move to Missouri, once again a protagonist in the Postseason after nine years of absence. Seth Lugo is on the mound for KC, while Mike Schmidt is for NY, but Stanton moves the score with a double against Lugo in the fourth inning that he sends home Juan Sotowhich is always a guarantee in getting on base.
Then it was the Dominican fielder who put his team up 2-0 with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning, but the Royals responded immediately with a double by Kyle Isbel and a triple by Massey to tie the match at 2-2 in the blink of an eye. But this is Giancarlo Stanton’s game, a player who when healthy is sensational: a 3-2 home run in the eighth inning which is decisive. The Yankees regain the field factor in game 3 thanks to the splendid performance of the former MVP with the Miami Marlins (3 for 5 with 2 decisive RBIs).
Game 4 is already an elimination game for Kansas City and the starters are the same as the first game: Wacha, however, does not start well and immediately concedes a point to the Yankees which came thanks to a Soto’s single. In the fifth he concedes yet another hit and Torres sends home Verdugo for the 2-0 New York; while in the sixth the absolute protagonist of game 3 repeats himself, Stanton’s single for the 3-0. Vinnie Pasquantino responded to this with a double for the Royals’ first point in the game against Cole.
Then the Yankees bullpen comes into play and there is no more story. 14.2 innings pitched by Bronx relievers and 0 points earned on the pitcher conceded. Having a bullpen in shape in the Postseason is the best thing that can happen because relief comes in when games are decided and the Yankees were perfect.
Aaron Boone’s team returns to the American League Championship Series after a year off in which they hadn’t even reached the postseason. In 2022 at the ALCS there were Dusty Baker’s phenomenal Houston Astros who had stopped the Yankees as AJ Hinch’s own Astros had done in 2019. This year, luckily for New York, there won’t be Houston, but one between Detroit and Cleveland, but be careful because the manager of the Tigers is Hinch himself.
Matteo, Bear for friends, therefore for everyone. I love America’s favorite pastime: baseball. Lifelong Boston Red Sox fan, but first and foremost a Diamond fan. In love with Pedro Martinez’s fastball, Ken Griffey Jr.’s swing and David Ortiz’s home runs. Secret dream: watching a game from the Green Monster at Fenway Park. On Instagram I talk about baseball with the page @mediabattuta