MINNEAPOLIS — For the second time in three years, the New York Yankees are heading to the ALCS after defeating the Twins, 5-1, and sweeping their best-of-five American League Division Series.
It was just three games but it’s a good start to a postseason for a team that is chasing its first championship since 2009.
For Minnesota, it is yet another season that ends in heartbreak after being eliminated by New York yet again. They also become the first 100-win team to be swept in the Division Series after being dominated by the Yankees this year.
The Bombers got the scoring started with a second inning Gleyber Torres solo home run, his first of the postseason. The star second baseman added two more hits later on, finishing 3 for 4 with a couple of runs scored.
Then, in the third, Brett Gardner hit a soft single that drove in Gio Urshela from third base. Didi Gregorius added a RBI-single in the seventh to make it 3-0 heading into the late innings.
As for Luis Severino, he clearly did not have his best stuff but was able to wiggle his way out of immense trouble multiple times in Game 3.
In the second inning, Severino loaded the bases with still no outs. He, however, was able to lock it down and not allow any runs to cross, inducing a pop-out and two strikeouts to end the frame.
Sevy Mettle. #NextManUp pic.twitter.com/E1LFmkYLrT
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 8, 2019
Severino continued to get hit relatively hard throughout and was pulled after just four innings of four-hit shutout baseball.
Problems arised for Aaron Boone when he was forced to use three of his best relievers to get through the fifth inning. An ineffective Tommy Kahnle was only able to get two outs, while Adam Ottavino issued a four-pitch walk to the only batter he faced.
Thankfully for New York, Chad Green settled in and locked down Minnesota in his 1.1 innings of work.
Zack Britton entered in the seventh inning, hoping to bridge the gap to Aroldis Chapman in the ninth. Instead, Britton looked to have turned an ankle and left the game after allowing an Eddie Rosario solo home run in the eighth.
The Yankees were not fazed, however. Cameron Maybin, who came in for Giancarlo Stanton earlier, drove a hanging slider from Sergio Romo to the seats in left field to get the run back.
Cam's clocking in. #NextManUp pic.twitter.com/eE7E1HqDXU
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 8, 2019
Gregorius then drove in Torres later in the frame to make it 5-1, New York.
In the ninth, Chapman made things interesting after letting the first two batters of the frame get on. After striking out Max Kepler, however, Gregorius made an incredible catch to rob Jorge Polanco of a hit. Chapman then struckout Nelson Cruz to seal the win and the series for New York.
The Yankees now await the winner of the series between Houston and Tampa Bay, before beginning the American League Championship Series this weekend.
