The New York Yankees have proven once again how resilient they can be at home this postseason.
In this season of unexpected success, the Yankees improved to 5-0 at home after Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez’s hit two-run singles in the eighth inning to complete a thunderous four-run comeback on Tuesday as the “Baby Bombers” beat the Houston Astros 6-4, to even the American League Championship Series to two wins apiece.
Down 4-0 in the seventh inning, Judge’s solo homer ignited the Yankees’ reaction after a game where they were looking lost and Houston threatened to leave them on the brink of elimination.
Everything seemed to conspire against New York: Judge’s misfortune running the bases, two errors by second baseman Starlin Castro and an interference call on catcher Austin Romine, who usually excels defensively, seemed like the perfect combination to doom the Yankees.
Yuli’s Guriel double with bases loaded in the sixth seemed to be pointing the Astros to 3-1 series lead, but Judge’s home run off starting pitcher Lance McCuller Jr. seemed to change all that and show the Yankees batters the way.
It was the end of an excellent start for McCullers, who allowed just two hits and stroke three batters in six innings. The Astros bullpen, however, failed to follow his lead and the runs started pouring in.
A sacrifice fly from Sanchez against Chris Devenski made it 4-2 after Didi Gregorius hit a triple. Todd Frazier and Chase Headley opened the eighth with hits to put runners on second and third with no outs, forcing Astros manager A.J. Hinch to bring his closer Ken Giles to replace Joe Musgrove.
It was not the right move. The Yankees’ third run was scored after a Brett Gardner drive through the middle. Judge then connected his double to the left field wall to tie the game. Gregorius connected a single, which was followed by a Sanchez double to make it 6-4.
Aroldis Chapman came out in the ninth to shut down the Astros. The Dominican closer struck down two batters and earned his third save of the postseason.
Masahiro Tanaka will pitch for New York on Wednesday in the fifth game, while Dallas Keuchel will take the mound for the Astros. That’s the same pitching duel of game 1, which the Astros won 2-1.
