Astros @ Yankees ALCS Game 5 Recap; and What's next for both teams.

IT’S THE BRONX BABY

What I tell you? The Yankees man they are back in the New York groove. Yankee stadium is louder than it has ever been before. The Yankees got the abilities and the the tools to take it all the way. The starting pitching is doing it’s job; going to at least the 5th; and that GOAT TALK of bullpens the Yankees have it all. The Yankees didn’t however have to do all that night. Game 5 the Bronx where the Yankees are 5-0 this postseason; with their starting pitcher of Tanaka who only let in 2 runs in an average start last time out. Against Dallas Keuchel and the Houston Astros; who Keuchel pitched great last time; didn't allow a run in the 7 innings in Houston in game 1 of this series. Can Tanaka ride the Yankee momentum in DA BRONX to get the Yankees up on Houston 3-2? To keep this miracle run going.  

Game 5 Recap Innings 1-3

Tanaka through the first three innings was dealing; he looked untouchable out their constant. Tanaka  posted a 68-35 on the night strike to ball ratio. The Houston could not touch Tanaka. He even got around an error; and with good play at the top of the first no harm is done by the Astros at the opening of the game. Dallas Keuchel looked great how he started off. Strikes out Judge and Sanchez to begin the game and end the first. Keuchel had it in the beginning of the game a 1.09 ERA against the Yankees lowest for pitchers that have pitched against the Yankees this season. Tanaka however responds by getting Marwin Gonzalez to ground out to him; to end the the top half of the second, getting around a leadoff double. Keuchel looks to be pitching great in the bottom half of the second. Gets Didi Generous for his 3 straight strikeout. There's one thing the Yankees hear two outs and it makes their skin get goosebumps from excitement. Starlin Castro to second; and moments later Bird hits a double down the line in right to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead early. Dallas Keuchel is thrown off by this; and clearly knows he does not have the bullpen the Yankees do; his team needs him. However he gets out of that jam; by striking out Todd Frazier on 2-2 curveball;  escaping the 2nd 1-0 Yankees. Tanaka continues to deal in the 3rd; gets Mccann to strike out, first his 1st of the game. He gets Altuve to groundout with George Springer on 2nd; in a 2-2 count to Todd Frazier and its 1-0 Yankees going to the 3rd. AND….THE BRONX BOMBERS PUT ANOTHA ONE ON THE BOARD IN THE 2ND. Dallas Keuchel thought rough 2nd I’ll bounce back in the 3rd. No no no, this is Yankee stadium and this is Bronx Bomber town. With 1 out Brett Gardner comes up and gets on for the ALL RISE the Judge has arrived. He apparently isn’t feeling home runs or strikeouts anymore; Judge skipped the gym a couple of days; it’s doubles season out here in the bronx. With 1 out Aaron Judge hits a double down the left line; Gardner the speed demon he slides into home and the Yankees take a 2-0 lead. IT'S THE BRONX BABY. THEY ARE UNSTOPPABLE HERE. Keuchel does stay composed however. Strikeout Sanchez and Gorgeous back to back; to escape the 3rd only down 2-0 Yankees.

Innings 4-6

Tanaka continues to dominate in the 4th with a 2-0 lead in the Yankees ballpark. He gets a strikeout to make it two outs; then a ground out to Frazier who was very busy; in a 2-2 count to keep the Yankees up 1-0 going to bottom 4. Keuchel can match Tanaka in the 4th however. He doesn’t let the Yankees get to him this inning. Strikes out Castro for the 2nd out; then strikes Greg Bird out on a questionable call on the outside corner. Tanaka however faces some trouble; with a hit and walk; he faced two man on first and second, with George Springer coming up.Who is not at all putting up great numbers this ALCS: a .071 batting average with a .235 On base percentage; very poor numbers for October baseball. Tanaka doesn’t lose focus he gets Springer on 4 pitches; now comes Josh Reddick; time for the Astros to strike 1st and 2nd 2 outs this may be your last shot. Reddick doesn't have a hit this ALCS; and Tanaka continued that; making Reddick chase on 1-2 pitch in the dirt. Tanaka overwhelmed with emotion from the screaming Yankee fans pumps his arm and screams. This place is rocking in DA BRONX. Keuchel was pitching well; until the Yankees hear two outs. Fast Forward he gets Gary Sanchez; runners on 1st and 2nd; two outs; read that TWO OUTS. Sanchez pulls Keuchel pitch down the line and the Yankees are running. Chase Headley scores from 2nd to make it 3-0 BRONX BOMBERS. AJ Hinch pulls his starter Keuchel with only going 4.2 innings with 3 earned runs; he is also responsible for the runners on 1st and 3rd. Will Harris comes in but…..THE YANKEES POOR IT ON. Didi Generous takes a ball past a diving Altuve to make it 4-0 Yankees. The Yankees are good again all of the Yankees fans will come out of hiding for the past 3 seasons. Not screaming fire Girardi now are you? No of course they're not it’s the Yankees baby. Will Harris works his way out of the 5th with getting Aaron Hicks to fly out to Marwin Gonzalez in left. Escaping the 1st and 3rd jam in the 5th 4-0 Yankees. Tanaka says heard Matt from Goat Talk said I should only go 5 with my bullpen; let me go 6. Tanaka thrives off the crowd; gets his 6th strikeout on the night with Correa’s K to make it 2 outs in the 6th. With two outs; on a 2-2 pitch Gurriel gave Tanaka’s pitch a drive; but not enough Hicks gathers it in center. Tanaka looking like an ace through 6 and he knows it. This is what they signed him for. Will Harris gets Starlin Castro chasing the high cheese to start the 6th; but of course with 2 outs the Yankees back Harris into a corner. Getting runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs. Astros manager AJ Hinch does not waste a second and goes to the pen; where he calls Brad Peacock to get out of this jam. Who hasn’t has a good postseason in 2 games with a 9.00 ERA. He however he does get Brett Gardner looking on an outside corner pitch to escape the 2 out rally by these Yankees.

Innings 7-9

Tanaka continues his master piece into his last inning of work. He gets Beltran on a check swing with a pitch in the dirt; for his 7th strikeout on the night. With 2 outs he only has to face Marwin Gonzalez; who is hitting barley his body weight .167 batting average this postseason. Tanaka gets Gonzalez on 1-2 pitch in the dirt swinging. The ball gets away from Sanchez; and with a crazy throw and help from his first baseman; Tanaka gets his 7th scoreless inning of the night with 8 strikeouts with 0 earned runs. That would Tanaka ace like performance at Yankee stadium in Game 5. Peacock gets Aaron Judge to start the 7th; but that’s all he had left in him. In the name of playoff baseball; Gary Sanchez puts the game 5 DAGGER ON THE ASTROS. With a line drive home run over the left field fence. With only 1 out in the 7th off of Peacock to make it 5-0 New York. Peacock gets out of the jam in the 7th; gets Castro to ground out with a runner on second; to go to the top 8. The Yankees bring in Tommy Kahle; and that’s all they needed. Makes quick work in the 8th; first two outs of the top of the 8th; then gets Josh Reddick on three pitches. At this point the fence jumping Yankee fans is insane. No one could track all the hiding Yankee fans their were found. They however are in Yankee stadium; cheering for the Bronx Bombers all 52,325 Yankee fans ;).  Francisco Liriano keeps it a 5 run game with the strikeout of Gardner in the 8th. Kahle let’s the Astros threaten however in the 9th. The Astros get a runner to second with one out. Kahle however doesn’t make his indecisive manager go to the bullpen. Kahle gets Gourriel to ground out to Generous. The runner may move over to third but the Yankees are playing for outs. Kahle finishes it off; get Bergman to fly out to Aaron Hicks in center. THE YANKEES ARE BACK BABY.  Up 3-2 one win away from going to their 41st World Series oh doesn’t it smell good New York? Maybe an old classic Dodgers Yankees wouldn’t that be nice?

What’s Next For The Yankees

The Yankees have a lot of great things going for them going into game 6 in Houston. They are still undefeated at Yankee stadium with now a 6-0 record after this Game 5 win. Tanaka pitched great; Girardi didn’t have to use that bullpen. The Astros didn’t have the Yankees use any arms. That bullpen will be well rested for game 6 in Houston on Friday. Which is not good for the Astros knowing how deep that pen can go. The usuals produces for the Yankees. Judge with an RBI; Sanchez with 2 of his own even a blast that sealed the game; Bird jumped on Keuchel early in the 2nd; Didi gave the Yankees a 4-0 lead in that 2 run 5th inning. The Yankees can’t be beat at Yankee stadium and they are in no better spot to be for game 6.They are sending Severino out their for Game 6.. Which should be interesting to see what he does in a series changing or ending game. The Yankees up 3-2 on the Astros because IT'S THE BRONX BABY 6-0!!!!

What’s Next For The Astros

The Astros look like they were lost out there for this one. Once Dallas Keuchel let in 1 that was it. The offense got nothing going against Tanaka; and the Yankees got everything from the Astros Keuchel. They were in it till the 7th with Gary Sanchez homerun; before only down 4. There was no reason for a come back sure people were waiting for it. Nope the bats got colder on this fall night for the Astros.  The bullpen did the best that they could. Will Harris gave up 0 Earned Runs with 1 inning; Brad Peacock 1.1 innings 1 Earned Run; Fransico Liriano 0 Earned Runs 1.0 inning. It was Keuchel that blew this one for the Astros; but you have to be able to score to win but the Astros are looking bad. Hopefully Justin Verlander can get them going in Game 6 in Houston. To force a Game 7 in the ALCS; I hope something that will wake up the Astros monster up come Friday night.

           By

Matthew Doherty