Written by @NewSchool - @SportsChain Analyst
Source:
Wild Card games are exciting because two teams go head-to-head for one whole game to determine which team is better suited to participate in the MLB Postseason. These games differ from your typical regular season or even Postseason game because due to the high stakes throughout this one game, teams have their best players out there for this game and for the whole game. Starting pitchers in the back-end of the rotation become bullpen additions and MLB teams put their best pitcher out there to start the game. Last night's Wild Card game was another one for the books.
AL Wild Card 2017 -
Minnesota Twins vs. the New York Yankees @ Yankee Stadium
Starting Pitchers:
NYY - LHP, Luis Severino
MIN - RHP, Ervin Santana
This game would go down in history because this is the first Wild Card game that neither starting pitcher would make it past the 2nd inning. Like I said before, because this is a winner-take-all scenario teams cannot afford to keep pitchers in if they are not pitching well. Luis Severino gave up a home run to Brian Dozier to add to the 3 runs scored while only recording one. Ervin Santana was pulled in the first inning as well after giving up a 3-run home run to Didi Gregorius marking the first time in MLB history a player has hit a go-ahead home run in the first inning down by 3+ runs.
Luis Severino making his way back to the Dugout after recording just a single out.
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Bullpen's Long Night of Relief
Starting pitchers in this game only record a total of 7 outs means that the Bullpen for both teams had a very long night. Chad Green was the first pitcher out of the Bullpen for the Yankees who would then pitch two innings and be followed up by David Robertson who wouldn't allow a run for the next 3 innings. Jose Berrios would come out of the Bullpen for the Twins would serve up a two-run dinger to the Rookie of the Year, Aaron Judge and the Yankees would not look back. Those who have been watching the Yankees for the last month know that after the 7th inning, it's a hard feat to catch the Yankees due to Tommy Kahnle setting up Aroldis Chapman for the ninth inning and that is just what happened. Kahnle would throw 2 1/2 innings and Aroldis followed it up with a clean, one hit, ninth inning.
The only pitching blemish of the night was Gary Sanchez taking a foul ball off of his Baby Maker's:
David Robertson's face says it all:
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Productive Bats for the Yankees -
The difference in this game was the Yankees hitting. The top of the Yankee's order went a combined 7 for 12 with 3 home runs from the likes of Aaron Judge, Brett Gardner and Didi Gregorius. Even the bottom of the order was productive with runs plated by Greg Bird and Aaron Hicks. When Brian Dozier started off the game with a home run that put the Yankees in a 0-3 deficit, the players rallied back and around each other to show who the better team was last night.
This was an all-around team effort for the Yankees and a big one at that. I dont blame Aaron Judge and the Yankees for celebrating with some Champagne.
Thanks for reading!
-- @NewSchool --
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