NEW YORK – Mistakes were made, and ultimately the Kansas City Royals’ missteps outweighed those of the Yankees.
Plus, the Yankees are now equipped with a better bullpen than they’ve had all season, which helped them lock down a 6-5 playoff-opening win Saturday night at Yankee Stadium.
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole was shaky over five innings, charged with three runs, and Aaron Judge (0-for-4, 3 Ks) was mostly absent.
But the Yanks prevailed in Game 1 of this best-of-five, AL Division Series, with embattled No. 9 hitter Alex Verdugo lashing the go-ahead RBI single in the seventh and Luke Weaver locking down a four-out save.
Here’s our analysis of the Yankees’ Game 1 victory:
Dream Weaver
With a runner at first, two out, and the Yanks up 6-5 in the eighth, here’s Luke Weaver on to get a four-out save – and he strikes out Maikel Garcia. Three outs to go.
While we’re here, some applause for Oswaldo Cabrera’s defense at first base, not a natural position for him, gathering some tough throws tonight.
Alex Verdugo comes through
They love him now at Yankee Stadium.
Alex Verdugo, who had a summer slumber at the plate, lashed the go-ahead RBI single off Michael Lorenzen, giving the Yanks a 6-5, two-out lead in the seventh.
That sharp single to left scored the speedy Jazz Chisholm Jr. from second, after the Yanks survived a KC replay challenge on Chisholm’s steal of second base, where even a decent throw by Salvy Perez gets him easily.
Austin Wells picks up the Captain
After righty Michael Lorenzen struck out Aaron Judge (0-for-3, 2 Ks), Austin Wells’ sharp single to right tied it 5-5, in the sixth, in this extremely entertaining (but nerve-wracking for both fan bases) playoff opener.
The Yanks’ chance to take a one-run lead was thwarted by KC third baseman Maikel Garcia, with a tremendous inning-ending play on a grounder to his left, robbing Giancarlo Stanton of an RBI single.
Good move by the Yankees to get some good karma going early, inviting Andy Pettitte to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before their playoff opener.
Pettitte had a second career just pitching in October, and the last time the Yankees won it – in 2009 – the lefty started and won all three of their postseason clinching games.
