For the third time in six years, the Yankees will tackle the Houston Astros within the American League Championship Series. For the Astros, it is going to be their sixth consecutive journey to the ALCS.
Previous postseason matchups have formed the depth between the Bombers and the ‘Stros. Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman has even attributed his membership’s World Series drought — haven’t appeared within the Fall Classic since 2009 — partly to the Astros dishonest scandal.
Here are 5 key video games which have outlined this rivalry:
2015 AL WILD CARD GAME
Some would name this recreation a bit of foreshadowing for the drama to return between these two groups. The Yankees — previous to the ‘Baby Bombers’ period — welcomed a younger and hungry Astros staff to the Bronx for a do-or-die single-elimination recreation. The two groups had by no means met within the postseason earlier than, nonetheless, Dallas Keuchel set the tone for an intense postseason rivalry.
The southpaw went six shutout innings recording seven strikeouts, shutting down a Yankee lineup that featured Alex Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran with Masahiro Tanaka opposing him.
The Astros got here out on prime 3-0 at Yankee Stadium and would advance to the ALCS finally falling to the Kansas City Royals who gained the World Series by beating the Mets.
2017 ALCS GAME 2
Welcome to your official nightmare, mentioned Justin Verlander. Not actually, nonetheless, however Verlander grew to become an immediate key a part of this rivalry.
The large story for the Yanks was they handed on Verlander on the waiver commerce deadline as a result of Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner needed to remain underneath the luxurious tax threshold. Instead, they landed Sonny Gray from Oakland and Verlander went to Houston. The relaxation is historical past.
Verlander welcomed the Bombers with open arms throwing a whole recreation permitting only one run and racking up 13 strikeouts. This despatched the collection again to the Bronx with Houston proudly owning a commanding 2-0 lead.
2017 ALCS GAME 4
The Empire strikes again. After a blowout victory in Game 3, the Yanks discovered themselves in a less-than-ideal scenario in Game 4.
The Bombers trailed 4-0 within the backside of the seventh inning. Their possibilities of making this a collection appeared poor as Keuchel — who threw seven shutout innings in Game 1 — was lined as much as take the ball in Game 5
Aaron Judge opened up with a solo blast to middle and the Yanks tacked on one other on a Gary Sanchez sac fly to make it 4-2. The Yanks then added 4 runs within the backside of the eighth, together with Sanchez’s go-ahead opposite-field double that just about introduced Yankee Stadium to the bottom.
The Bombers fought again and gained the sport 6-4, night up the collection at two video games every. They would go on to win Game 5, however lose Games 6 and seven. The Astros ended up profitable the World Series — the primary in franchise historical past — and must apologize for doing so years later after their dishonest scandal was uncovered.
2019 ALCS GAME 3
The Yanks met the ‘Stros once more within the ALCS two years later. This time, the Bombers had been capable of steal a recreation in Houston and headed again to the Bronx with the collection tied 1-1.
However, there was a giant drawback standing of their means: Gerrit Cole.
The right-hander was having a profession 12 months in his contract season and walked into Yankee Stadium decided to show his price.
Cole dominated by means of seven shutout innings recording seven strikeouts and sure helped earn himself the $324 million payday from the Yankees months later.
The Astros would win the Game 4-1 and take a 2-1 collection lead.
2019 ALCS GAME 6
Nothing could be the identical after this recreation. The Yankees had been trailing within the collection 3-2 and located themselves down two runs within the prime of the ninth inning.
With two outs in stepped DJ LeMahieu who was an absolute revelation for the Bombers that season. LeMahieu popped a two-run game-tying dwelling run whereas the Yanks had been all the way down to their remaining out. There was only one drawback.
They didn’t have the lead.
Jose Altuve smashed a walk-off dwelling run off of Aroldis Chapman to ship the Astros again to the World Series. As he was rounded third, Altuve was seen telling teammates to not rip off his shirt. Ken Rosenthal requested him after the sport why he didn’t need his shirt ripped off and Altuve merely mentioned he was shy.
Allegations about Altuve carrying a buzzer to relay what pitch was coming from Chapman happened and finally the whole 2017 rubbish can dishonest scandal was uncovered thanks largely to the suspicion of that dwelling run.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com