New York – Yankee Stadium filled up for the first time on Tuesday night. It was the Bronx’s first playoff game since Game 5 of the 2019 ALCS. It was Gerrit Cole’s first home playoff start as the Yankees. Both players hit their first career playoff home runs. The New York Yankees won the first game of their ALDS matchup with the Cleveland Guardians (NYY 4, CLE 1).
Kerr pitched a one-pointer for the Yankees in 6 1/3 innings in early trouble while hitting eight innings among the teams with the lowest regular-season strikeout rate in baseball. Anthony Rizzo hit the second deck in right field with a two-run homer in the sixth to put the game into the bed. New York is now two wins away from qualifying for the ALCS.
Here are the highlights from the first game between the Yankees and Guards.
Cole navigates early danger
The Guardians certainly had Cole playing a role in the early game. They got a man to second base in the first and second innings, but Cole escaped with a strikeout, and then some nice defense helped him get through a full-base softball in the third. Most notably, Josh Donaldson moved to his left to level the ground before throwing it back.
After home, Cole settled and retired 12 of the last 14 hitters he faced, while Cleveland didn’t have another runner advance to second base when he was on the mound. His only blemish is Steven Kwan’s solo homer — Kwan’s first playoff homer of his career and his seventh in 2022 — in three starts this season , Kerr kept the Guardians to three in 19 innings.
It’s important to note that while he needed 39 pitches to get through the first inning, Kerr was able to carry the ball into the seventh. This is important because the Yankees don’t have several key relievers due to injuries (Zach Britton, Scott Everose, Chad Green, Michael King, etc.) and need to be in the final few innings of the playoffs Piece together. The more they get from the starter, the better.
“It’s very special to me. Very special,” Kerr said with a laugh when asked about the applause he got after Game 1. “The game wasn’t over – I was leaving in heavy traffic – it wasn’t the most comfortable time to admit the crowd, but I appreciate it.”
eventful fifth inning
There was some right-field fun in the second half of the fifth inning. first, Donaldson elevates what he and the Bronx’s 47,807 consider a go-ahead solo homer to a right-field seatHowever, the ball hit the very top of the wall and restarted the game, with Donaldson flagged after he went around first base in his home run trot. Replay confirmed that the ball did hit the top of the wall. It’s not a home run.
The next hitter, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, stabbed along right field and wild-card series hero Oscar Gonzalez jumped the wrong ball and sent it through his leg. Kiner-Falefa went to third base on a turnover, and Jose Trevino brought him in with a go-ahead sacrifice fly. Right field took a home run off Donaldson and gave Keena-Falefah three bases.
“That’s what he’s been doing all year. He made that mistake (in the first inning) and he bounced back really well,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Kiner-Falefa after Game 1. time said. Setup is complete. So yeah, he gets more chances and recovers from it, which is good. “
Trevino, who made his first All-Star Game this summer, had a solid regular season. He had two hits off the field and was .355 runners from the scoring position. The sac fly didn’t get hit, but it brought two strikes and it put the Yankees ahead in the playoffs. Trevino has really been a godsend for New York this year.
Rizzo provides insurance for Yankees
The Yankees hit their first homer in Harrison Budd’s first career playoff home run and his first as a Yankee. He came from the Cardinals at the trade deadline with a foot injury on the injured list. He wasn’t activated until mid-September, where he went 10 from 46 (.217) in 14 games. Bud picked a good time for his first Yankee base run.
Bud tied the game at 1-1 and Trevino gave the Yankees a 2-1 lead. In the sixth inning, Rizzo provided two insurance with a homer on the second deck in right field. With Andrew Benintendi injured and Matt Carpenter currently relegated to slugging duty, Rizzo is the only reliable source of left-handed power in New York’s lineup. The Yankees need him to pepper the short porch.
Before Rizzo broke out, 62 home run player Aaron Judge reminded everyone that he was more than a home run hitter. He took a lead walk against Cal Quantrill, grabbed second, and then clinched third when he pitched into midfield. In addition to those 62 home runs, the Judges have 16 of 19 steals this year. He is a gifted, well-rounded player.
Once Rizzo put the Yankees up 4-1, manager Aaron Boone was able to get through the final three innings with right-hander Jonathan Loisgar, left-hander Vandy Peralta and right-hander Clay Holmes. The first game was Peralta’s first appearance since September. 18. He missed the final weeks of the regular season with a back injury. It was also Holmes’ first appearance since September. 26. He missed the end of the regular season with a shoulder problem. Clearly, the Yankees were happy to throw him (and Peralta) straight into the fire.
Next
Game 2, of course. Historically, teams that win Game 1 of five series go on to win the series 71 percent of the time.This year’s ALDS schedule is a bit unusual, with a rest day between the first and second games and Games 2 and 3. Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday night, though the forecast suggests the weather could be an issue. Whenever Game 2 is played, Nestor Cortez (12-4, 2.44 ERA) takes on Shane Bieber (13-8, 2.88 ERA).