IT AIN'T OVER YET!

The rumors of the Yankees’ demise have been greatly exaggerated. The Yankees’ bats finally showed up and gave us something to cheer about as they took Game 5 by a score of 4-1. I was at the Stadium for this one, and if you stayed away thinking this was all but over, I am sad to report that you missed out on a classic. Even before first pitch the energy was palpable, bordering on desperation for a Yankees win. It turned out to be one of the loudest and most exciting games I had ever experienced in the Bronx.

(Justin Lane / European Pressphoto Agency)

The Yankees, being on the brink of elimination, started the top of the first looked like an extension of the previous night’s debacle that was Game 4. A single, a passed ball, runner reaches third on a grounder, a wild pitch, and the Yankees are down a run. This was EXACTLY what we did NOT need. I found myself yelling at players and wondering if I should just close my eyes until it was over. Thankfully James Paxton was able to get it under control and stop the scoring. Then DJ LeMahieu drove the second pitch out of Justin Verlander’s hand into the seats, and I began to feel something I hadn’t felt in days – hope! Then a single from Aaron Judge and a double from Gleyber Torres was followed by a Giancarlo Stanton strikeout and I began to hear those TV sports announcers in my head. That’s another at bat with runners in scoring position where they failed to drive runs in. I began to get a sick feeling.

(Kathy Willens/AP)

After Aaron Hicks drove the count full, he launched a pitch deep into right field, right into the foul pole. For the next 30 seconds, I let out a scream to release 4 days’ worth of frustration, exasperation, and hopelessness. So did 48,482 of my closest friends in attendance last night. Except maybe for the Astros fans, most of whom were in shock. I struggle to find the words to express what it felt like to finally see the team, for whom I had been cheering all season long, finally show up at the Stadium! I probably don’t have to, because if you were watching, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

(Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post)

From there, the other hero wearing Yankees pinstripes took over. Paxt8on out-dueled Verlander for the next 6 innings, and it reminded me of what we were expecting when we traded for him last November. No runs, 9 strikeouts, did not allow any 2 consecutive batters to reach base, did not allow any runners to reach third base, and only allowed 1 runner to reach second base once – for one at bat. When you consider how good Houston’s lineup is, you realize how epic that feat was. Add to that the attitude he showed to talk Aaron Boone out of a pitching change in the sixth, clearly mouthing the words “Let’s Go”, and he becomes an MVP candidate for this series.

(Frank Franklin II/AP)

To be sure, the Yankees have some serious questions to answer. The first one being what the sequence of pitchers is going to be for Game 6. I suspect it will be Chad Green, since he did not make an appearance in last night’s game. The other is how to wake up the sleeping bats. Only three hitters are hitting above .250 for the ALCS – DJ LeMahieu (.381), Gleyber Torres (.300), and Giancarlo Stanton (.286). Five of the regular starters have an OPS below .450. I get that Houston has excellent pitchers, but this is ridiculous.

(Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports)

For now, the Yankees have one job – win Game 6. Most of the news has been about how insurmountable a task it is to come back from being down 3 games to 1 against the Houston Astros. The strategy for accomplishing that steep climb is straightforward. Just win Game 5 (done!). Then win Game 6. Finally, win Game 7. Simple. It can be done. If nothing else, last night’s game gave us hope that the Yankees will get it done. I have a good feeling about this.

--Ike Dimitriadis
BYB Contributor
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon