If it were May or June or July, it would be easy to chalk up last night’s loss as just one of those games. The starting pitcher had a bad night, the offense had chances but didn’t cash in, blah blah blah. Run of the mill loss. But, because it is October, that one really stings. Despite the early 5-0 deficit, that game was very winnable. The middle of the Red Sox bullpen did everything they could to give that game away and the Yankees said nah, we’re good.
So now the Yankees are down one game to none in the best-of-five ALDS. Fun fact: This is the eighth time the Yankees have lost Game One of the ALDS. They came back to win six of the previous seven series, including last year. The one exception is the 2007 ALDS against the Indians. The midge series. The Yankees, including this very group of players, know what it takes to erase a one game deficit in the best-of-five series. They did it last year. They have to do it again this year.
On the mound tonight will be Masahiro Tanaka, who had a 7.58 ERA in four starts and 19 innings against the Red Sox during the regular season. They hit .345/.382/.631 against him. And you know what that means right now? It means nothing. The same way J.A. Happ’s regular season 1.99 ERA against Red Sox meant nothing last night. If Tanaka’s on, and he dominant any lineup. Hopefully he’s on tonight. Here are the starting lineups:
New York Yankees
1. LF Andrew McCutchen
2. RF Aaron Judge
3. 1B Luke Voit
4. DH Giancarlo Stanton
5. C Gary Sanchez
6. SS Didi Gregorius
7. 3B Miguel Andujar
8. 2B Gleyber Torres
9. CF Brett Gardner
RHP Masahiro Tanaka
Boston Red Sox
1. RF Mookie Betts
2. LF Andrew Benintendi
3. DH J.D. Martinez
4. SS Xander Bogaerts
5. 1B Mitch Moreland
6. 3B Eduardo Nunez
7. 2B Ian Kinsler
8. C Sandy Leon
9. CF Jackie Bradley Jr.
LHP David Price
Another cool and clear night in Boston. Good weather these first two games. First pitch is scheduled for 8:15pm ET (ugh) and you can watch on TBS and TBS.com. Enjoy the game, everyone.
Injury Update: Aaron Hicks (hamstring) went for an MRI this morning and it came back clean. There’s no strain. He still has some tightness but is available tonight. Thank goodness. Hopefully he’ll be back in the starting lineup for Game Three on Monday.