Houston Astros vs. New York Yankees Recap: Game 5
October 20, 2017
Oh what a night it was in the Bronx. After trailing 2-0 for the second time this postseason, the Yankees come home, rip the shit outta the Astros, beat them 5-0 in Game 5, and take 3 games in a row to move 9 innings away from clinching the AL Pennant. New York hasn’t been to the World Series since 2009 when they beat the Philadelphia Phillies in 6 games. Can it happen? With this article being written Thursday night we now know that the Los Angeles Dodgers are awaiting their opponent for the World Series. If the Astros continue to play like absolute garbage then I see the Yankees vs Dodgers matchup ahead. The Astros will need a big rebound at home for the final two (possible) games in Houston. They will have the fans, elimination looming, and the city supporting them but can they do it? If Game 5 was any indication I think not.
In Game 5 of the ALCS Tanaka was the man of the night. He came out and pitched like an absolute animal and threw 7 innings of 3 hit ball, not letting up a single run, striking out 8 and only walking 1 batter. If that isn’t a pitcher stepping up big in the playoffs I don’t really know what is. He got a lot of help from the bats as well as the Yankees tallied 5 runs, 1 of which coming via the ding dong from “El Kraken” Gary Sanchez. RBI’s came from Didi Gregorius, Aaron Judge and Greg Bird as well. Sanchez tallied 2 RBI’s one from the homer and one from a RBI single. Big surprise performance at the plate from DH Chase Headley who went 3-4 and has been hitting the ball well the last two games after struggling for most of the postseason.
Turning to Houston the woes continue for them. While the bullpen was a bright side for the Astros going 3.1IP and only letting up 1 run on 3 hits, it was Dallas Keuchel who struggled in a spot where the Astros needed him. He only went 4.2 innings before getting the hook as he allowed 4 runs on 7 hits (all earned) adding 8K’s to a rough outing for the Astros ace. The hitting also did not get any better, the Astros once again only strung together 4 hits in Game 5 and it has fans wondering what happened to one of the top offenses in the MLB? The top 4 in the lineup (Springer, Reddick, Altuve, Correa) were a combined 2-16 (.125 BA) in the game which has been the story of it as of the last 3 games in the series.
It will be all up to Houston to stop the Yankees at home to even up the series at 3-3. It’s a compelling matchup in Game 6 with the Astros putting Justin Verlander on the mound against Yankees Ace Luis Severino. Both of these pitchers will bring their best and this will be a down to the wire kind of game. Two of the most dynamic offenses in baseball squaring off against two of the best pitchers in the AL. Game 6 first pitch at 8:08 you watching?
By Nick Kazandjian