The New York Yankees will at least see a Game 6 and move the ALCS to Texas, after a 4-1 victory over the Houston Astros in Game 5.
All five runs came in the first inning. The Astros quickly jumped out in front 1-0, but the Yankees responded with a bottom half of the first inning that included two homers and four runs vs Justin Verlander. New York’s DJ LeMahieu (a leadoff solo shot) and Aaron Hicks (three-run homer with a pretty bat flip) supplied the dingers:
Now, the odds are still very much in Houston’s favor. The Yankees would have to win the next two games in Houston, with Gerrit Cole starting Game 7 (if necessary). Cole has allowed just one earned run — to go with 32 strikeouts — in 22 2/3 innings this postseason. Five Thirty Eight currently gives this just a 19% chance of happening.
But the Yankees got Part One of their hopeful comeback trilogy completed on Friday night, and they will certainly be very motivated with all hands on deck in Houston for Game 6. And if the Yankees can win Game 6, all the pressure will be on the Astros in Game 7.
The Yankees will look to even up the series on Saturday night in Game 6 (8:05 PM ET), in what looks to be a bullpen duel.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.