The Red Sox beat the Yankees 4-3 and will now take on the Astros in the ALCS.
CC Sabathia ran into trouble in the first inning by loading the bases but was able to escape without any damage.
Andrew Benintendi got hit by a pitch to start off the 3rd inning and was knocked over to third by a single from Steve Pearce. J.D. Martinez brought in the first run on a sac fly to score Benintedi. Ian Kinsler doubled to bring home Pearce followed by an Eduardo Núñez single to put the Red Sox up 3-0.
One BIG inning for the Sox.
Boston’s on the board first. pic.twitter.com/oqi9IsQvun
— MLB (@MLB) October 10, 2018
Sabathia, who was pulled after the 3rd inning, was not happy about Angel Hernandez being behind the plate for the game.
“He’s absolutely terrible,” Sabathia told reporters. “He was terrible behind the plate today. He was terrible at first base. It’s amazing how he’s getting jobs umpiring in these playoff games.”
CC was then asked if Hernandez was the reason the Yankees lost and Sabathia said, “Not at all. But he shouldn’t be around playoff games.”
CC went 3 IP with 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB 1 K.
Meanwhile, Red Sox starter Rick Porcello was asked about Sabathia’s comments about the strike zone.
“Throw the ball over the plate, CC,” Porcello said. “I thought Angel Hernandez called a good game. You gotta get the ball over the white part of the plate and then you get the strikes called.”
Porcello cruised through the Yankee lineup going 5 IP with 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, and 1 K.
Zach Britton entered for the Yankees in the 4th inning and gave up a lead off home run to Christian Vazquez to extend the lead to 4-0.
The Yankees got their first run in the 5th inning. Sanchez ripped a double into the left field gap and was moved to third by an infield single by Gleyber Torres. Gardner hit a sac fly to left to allow Sanchez to tag home and make it 4-1.
Craig Kimbrel came in to close for the Red Sox but had some trouble finding the strike zone. Aaron Judge worked a lead-off walk and was followed by a single from Didi Gregorius.
Kimbrel stuck out Stanton swinging to get the first out.
Luke Voit drew a walk to load the bases and Kimbrel hit Neil Walker in the foot to make it 4-2.
That set the table for Gary Sanchez to be the hero the Yankees desperately needed. He just got under a fastball and flew out to the warning track in left field to score Gregorius on the sac fly and make it 4-3.
Gleyber Torres hit a dribbler to Núñez and was thrown out by half of a step to record the final out. Pearce made an excellent stretch to his right to seal the Red Sox win.
Party like it's 2004. #CLINCHED pic.twitter.com/TLqMvsF686
— MLB (@MLB) October 10, 2018
The Yankees had struggled all year with runners in scoring position and this series was a microcosm of that. Another weakness that showed was the inability to get any kind of length from their starters. No starter made it past the 5th inning in any of their five playoff games.
During the post-game celebration, the Red Sox trolled the Yankees by playing “New York, New York” as they popped champagne for the second time in Yankee Stadium this year.
🎵 Start Spreading The News 🎵 pic.twitter.com/K0OZfaxK6j
— MLB (@MLB) October 10, 2018
The Red Sox will play the Astros in what should be an incredible series. The defending World Series champs going up against the team with the best record in baseball this season will be quite the draw.
Featured image via Flickr/Keith Allison
