NEW YORK — While the Twins struck first in tonight’s series opener, the Yankees conspired to score 10 runs in an overall dominant win in Game 1 of the ALDS. It took a while but October baseball is finally here, and man that was fun to watch.
Though they only had eight hits, the Yankee batters showed immense patience at the plate drawing eight walks, helping their 10-run outburst. Each of their hits mattered more because of the guys on-base before them.
DJ LeMahieu was the engine of the offense atop the Yankee line-up, driving in four runs, falling just a triple shy of the cycle. His two-out, three-run double in the seventh inning versus Kyle Gibson broke the game wide open and all but guaranteed a win for the Bombers.
James Paxton did not have his best stuff, giving up three runs on five hits in just 4.2 innings, but it was just enough to beat Jose Berrios, who lasted just four innings. Jorge Polanco and Nelson Cruz both took the left-hander deep for solo shots, but Paxton stayed sharp kept his team in the game.
The go-ahead hit came in the fifth inning, with the bases loaded, and Gleyber Torres at the plate. Fighting off an early 0-2 count, Torres scorched a two-run double that flew off the glove of Miguel Sano and into foul territory. That ignited the team and the crowd and the Bombers did not look back.
Baby delivered. #NextManUp pic.twitter.com/xgdbeEHkVV
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 5, 2019
Sano responded with a homer in the next half inning, but LeMahieu and Brett Gardner homered as well, as the Yankees continued to pull away.
Machine from the leadoff spot.
Gardy from the 3-hole. #NextManUp pic.twitter.com/Qr7FnMsLSe— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 5, 2019
Six Yankee relievers combined to pitch 4.1 innings of two-hit baseball, with Sano’s home run off of Tommy Kahnle providing the only negative on their ledger tonight.
Masahiro Tanaka takes the mound tomorrow as the Yankees look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead. Randy Dobnak will start the game for Minnesota.
