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Game Day
·3 min read

Yankees fail to pick-up Happ, drop Game 1

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BOSTON — In a game defined by missed opportunities for the boys in grey, the Yankees’ late-game rally came up just short, as the Red Sox took Game 1 of the ALDS, 5-4.

Though New York had some momentum heading into this game, Boston stopped them in their tracks almost immediately. 

While J.A. Happ struck out the first of two Boston MVP candidates, in Mookie Betts, to start of the game, the Red Sox had one more waiting in the wing just three batters later.

With men on first and second, J.D. Martinez crushed a fastball and sent it over the Green Monster for an early 3-0 lead for Boston. 

That woke up the Red Sox crowd and right away put New York in a hole. 

Happ, who pitched good against Boston all year, just did not have it today as he was chased from the game in the third. After allowing consecutive hits to Betts and Andrew Benintendi to open the frame, Aaron Boone had no choice but to pull his starter from the game.

With Chad Green then allowing both runners to cross the plate, Happ’s night ended with a final line of five runs on four hits in just two-plus innings pitched. 

Down 5-0, the New York pitching staff did its job, giving Boone seven scoreless innings the rest of the way, but the offense just could not get the big hit. 

In the sixth, though the Yankees scored two runs, Gleyber Torres had a huge opportunity with the bases loaded against Brandon Workman.

The rookie, however, showed his age, striking out on an off-speed pitch that was out of the zone, as Boston remained on top, 5-2.

The next inning, New York once against loaded the bases, and this time with no outs.

Facing Matt Barnes, Giancarlo Stanton struck out, which he did four times tonight, to pass the baton to Luke Voit.

Voit drove in a run on a Fielder’s Choice, before Didi Gregorius grounded out to end the inning.

It was a huge wasted opportunity for New York, facing a relatively weak Boston pen.

Again in the eighth, this time faced by supposed Game 3 starter Rick Porcello, Torres singled and forced Alex Cora to have to bring in Craig Kimbrel.

Andrew McCutchen did his best to get the Aaron Judge a chance with runners on, but he flew out to Betts to end the inning.

This out loomed large when Judge led-off the next frame with a monster solo shot, to keep New York’s hopes alive.

Unfortunately for the Bombers, Kimbrel turned it up a notch and got the next three guys out to close out the Game 1 victory for Boston.

All in all, it was a frustrating game for New York because of all they left on the table. The team was 1-7 with runners in scoring position, and left a whopping ten guys on base.

Aaron Hicks was also taken out of the game after straining his right hamstring. Brett Gardner replace him in center field. His status for Game 2 remains up in the air.

Masahiro Tanaka pitches against David Price in tomorrow’s all-important affair.