The New York Yankees kicked off the ALDS in grand fashion with a 9-3 win over the Rays. The game featured a pitching match-up of two aces, Gerrit Cole and Blake Snell.
New York struck first with a run in the top of the first inning when Aaron Hicks drove in DJ LeMahieu on a sac-fly. The Rays would respond right back, however, when Randy Arozarena tied the game with a solo home run off Cole.
Clint Frazier hit a solo home run in the top of the third to make it 2-1. Tampa took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a two-run home run by Ji-Man Choi.
In the top of the fifth, Kyle Higashioka, who has started both of Cole’s starts this post-season, tied the game with a solo homer. Two batters later, Aaron Judge went deep and as a result, the Yankees were back on top.
The Yankees took over in the top of the ninth. Following an RBI single by Aaron Hicks, the Yankees had the bases loaded and Giancarlo Stanton at the plate. Stanton launched a 2-2 slider to center field for a grand slam, giving the Yankees a commanding 9-3 lead. Luis Cessa pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth to finish the game.
Cole went six innings, allowing three runs on six hits. He struck out eight batters and walked two. Snell went five innings, giving up four runs on six hits. He had four strikeouts and two walks.
Game two will be tonight (Tuesday) as the Yankees will send 21 year old rookie Deivi Garcia to the mound. Garcia will be the youngest Yankee to start a playoff game since Whitey Ford in 1950. The Rays will start Tyler Glasnow.
(Photo: @Yankees/Twitter)
