N.Y. Yankees: The Ghosts Arrive In Time For Game Three

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Indians Lead Yankees 2-1

I - CLE 4; NYY 0

II - CLE 9; NYY 8

III - NYY 1; CLE 0

MONDAY NIGHT BASEBALL

Cleveland Indians

vs.

New York Yankees

FROM

River Avenue Grounds

BRONX

New York Yankees: Redefine Complete Game Shutout in Game Three Victory Over Tribe.

Holy Cow!  There's still life in them young Bombers.

The new New York Yankees managed somehow to scrape themselves off the Ohio interstate after being splatted about the shoulder like road kill after games One and Two in Cleveland.

On the heels of their thrilling Wild Card victory over Minnesota, Aaron Judge and the Bomber bats were silenced in Game One at Cleveland.  They mustered just three hits in a 4-0 whitewashing against Tribe starting pitcher Trevor Bauer, former Yankees reliever Andrew Miller, and closer Cody Allen.

Matters worsened for Yankee fans when several of their worst nightmares began playing out in Game Two.  Staked to a commanding 8-3 lead, the incessantly beleaguered Joe Girardi came galloping into the sixth inning riding a pale horse.

There's no other way to put it ... Girardi got spooked when CC Sabathia issued a lead-off walk to Carlos Santana, then retired Jay Bruce on a sharp liner to short.  So, he yanked CC after just 77 pitches in favor of Chad Green, who promptly retired Austin Jackson, then surrendered a double to Yan Gomes.  Lonnie Chisenhall then stepped in as a pinch-hitter, and was ruled hit-by-pitch by home plate umpire Dan Iassogna.

Catcher Gary Sanchez implored his manager to challenge the call, claiming the pitch hit the knob of Chisenhall's bat (not his hand).  But Girardi's video minions failed to come up with their own conclusive evidence to overturn the call.  Girardi thus failed to appeal the play within the required time limit.  That earned the ire of Yankees fans because the decision to challenge should have been a no-brainer, especially after television replay revealed the pitch indeed hit the bat, rendering the umpire's call incorrect.

Just do it, Joe!

With the bases now loaded, Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor crushed a Chad Green change-up, high up, and off the right field foul/fair pole, reducing the Yankees lead to one.

Of course, the Indians went on to tie Game Two in the bottom of the eighth, then won it in the 13th inning.  It's no great secret how Girardi is avoiding Dellin Betances.  Game Two demonstrated a huge reason why.  Dellin issued a lead-off walk to Austin Jackson, whom then stole second.  Yan Gomes followed with a single to left, Jackson scores.

Yankees lose.

Back home at Yankee Stadium, Bomber fans rained down Bronx Cheers upon Joe Girardi during pre-game introductions, in disapproval for utterly mismanaging Game Two.

But as they say - winning cures all.

The Yankees gained new life Sunday, and redefined what it means to achieve a complete game shutout victory.

What do I mean by that?

Game Three's win was a complete team effort.

They received a clutch start from Masahiro Tanaka; premium relief efforts from David Robertson and Aroldis Chapman; a huge defensive effort behind the plate from Gary Sanchez and a game saving catch by Aaron Judge in right; and lastly, a clutch game breaking home run off the bat of Greg Bird.

It was a masterful 1-0 victory over the defending American League champions.

Tanaka allowed just three hits and a walk, and fanned seven batters, over seven full innings of work for the victory.  With one out in the fourth, Jason Kipnis tripled to right, but was left stranded after Tanaka struck out the following two batters.

Gary Sanchez helped Tanaka along by blocking pitches in the dirt all game long.

A clutch home run by Greg Bird off former Yankee Andrew Miller in the seventh, and four strikeouts by Aroldis Chapman sealed the deal.

The Bombers can tie the series at two, and send it back to Cleveland, with a victory tonight in Game Four at Yankee Stadium.