It all depends on your point of view. The ALDS kicked off yesterday. God, I love afternoon fall-ball. Now depending on your rooting proclivity you understand my headline if you’re a Mariners or Guardians fan you want to forget the day entirely. If you’re a Yankee or Astros fan ? yea great day to be at the ballpark. Here's a recap
Yankees 4-1 over the Guardians
The Bronx: Guardians hoped to keep riding the wave of great pitching that swelled during the wild card round and sent Cal Quantrill (15-5) to the mound for game one, unfortunately what the guardians bright with them was their inability to hit and score runs. In 33 innings this postseason the G-men from Cleveland have managed to plate just four runs.. Harrison Bader lit the scoreboard in the third inning with a solo blast tying the score at one a piece and Anthony Rizzo went yard in the sixth with a 2 run blast to open it up. Both shots were off the young starter. Needless to say the postseason has not been friendly to the Quantrill family. As you all remember it was Cal’s dad Paul who gave up the 2 run blast to David Ortiz in 2004 ALCS.. But let's digress.
The Third inning was as close as the Guardians got to any kind of noise making. Steven Kwan had homered to give Cleveland the lead and they managed to load the bases after Yankee’s “ Ace” Garrett Cole (13-8) plunked Amed Rosario, Jose Ramierz doubled and the G’s had men on second and third. Then it got interesting. Josh Naylor hit a grounder to Rizzo at first and he went home with the throw. Rosario stopped on a dime and got back into third everybody is safe. Bases loaded one out. Great, right ? Wrong. Oscar Gonzalez grounded to Josh Donaldson at third for the force out at home then Andres Gimenez struck out. End Game. sure there were six more innings to play but that was it. Cole Pitched into the seventh and the Yankee’s pen allowed just two singles in 2 ⅓ innings. The Yankees lead the series 1-0 game two is Thursday again in the Boogie Down Bronx. First pitch 7:37
Astros 8 - 7 over the Mariners
Houston: Early on it looked like the M’s were going to pull off the upset over the rusty Astros. Like my mom always said “ It's good to hope for things.” Let’s be honest here people, Seattle choked away game one. The Mariners tore Justin Verlander (18-4) a new one, scoring six runs in the first four of this contest. Dusty Baker pulled the soon to be named Cy Young winner after just 4 innings down 6-3. Eugenio Suarez made it 7-3 with a monster blast to left in the seventh. Then the bottom of the eighth happened. Of all groups the Mariners Pen let them down. Scott Servais called on reliever Andres Munoz who had given up just one run in his past 15 appearances. Yea that didn't hold up last night, Yordan Alvarez singled, Alex Bregman slugged a 400 foot shot to left center to make it 7-5. No worries still up 7-5 after eight and closer Paul Seawld (20 Saves) on the season was there to close it out. Wrong again. He plunked David Hensley and gave up a single to Jeremy Pena, Servais pulled Sewald with two outs. For Robbie Ray. God Help me. Ray had not pitched an inning out of the pen all year and gave up 4 runs in three innings on Saturday to the Jays. Not Bright Coach. Not Bright. With two out and two on, Yordan Alvarez sent Ray’s slider 430 feet into the right field seats. 8-7 Stros. Game two is also Thursday first pitch 3:37 . What's the 7 min for ?
Like I said way up at the top . Fantastic or Frustrating, You gotta love baseball.
As always oy6u can follow / give me grief on Twitter @Tmurph207