There’s a lot going on in the Yankees Universe as the Bronx Bombers get ready to take on the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS.
Throughout the 2017 regular season, New York Yankees rookie sensation Aaron Judge has powered his way into the history books, smashing various records and etching his name alongside some of the all-time greats.
His 52 home runs broke Mark McGwire‘s rookie record of 49 home runs set back in 1987. Of those 52 home runs, 33 were hit at Yankee Stadium, breaking Babe Ruth‘s single-season record of home runs hit in the Bronx.
In Tuesday night’s American League Wild Card Game, Judge, yet again, put his name beside some of the Yankees’ best by becoming just the fifth Yankee under the age of 25 to hit a home run and walk in a playoff game in the last 50 years.
#Yankees in the last 50 years w/a HR & a BB in a postseason game, age-25 or under:
Randolph
Jeter
Soriano
Cano
Judgehttps://t.co/J63pdjDyqj pic.twitter.com/Ot5i4BJ31V— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) October 4, 2017
Against the Twins, Judge went 2-for-4 with a home run, a single, a walk, two RBI and three runs scored.
But he’s not the only Baby Bomber making waves.
The Kraken Strikes
Another young Yankee making history is catcher Gary Sanchez. Like Judge, Sanchez played his first postseason game Tuesday night and also made his mark on pinstriped history. He became just the second Yankee catcher ever to record two hits in a playoff game prior to turning 25.
Gary Sanchez is the 2nd catcher in #Yankees history to have a 2-hit postseason game before turning 25 https://t.co/ZEVXnLe5Nl pic.twitter.com/KktHfMyukS
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) October 4, 2017
Sanchez went 2-for-4 with a double, a single and a run scored. He joins Sherm Lollar who, at the age of 23, went 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and two runs scored during the team’s 9-8 loss to the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 3 of the 1947 World Series.
David Robertson, AKA Superman
Following Luis Severino‘s deflating performance in the Wild Card Game, the Yankees bullpen stepped in and lived up to the hype they have garnered all season. While each reliever excelled in their role, arguably the most notable was the game’s winning pitcher, David Robertson.
D-Rob threw 3.1 shutout innings while striking out five. This stellar outing earned Robertson the distinction of being named the first MLB Players Men of Steel Power Performance of the 2017 postseason.
Followers choose @DRob30 @Yankees as 1st #MLBPlayers #MenOfSteel #PowerPerformance of #PostSeason2017 #ALWildCard 3.1IP | 0R | 5K | W pic.twitter.com/9KSKt0jTSr
— #MLBPA (@MLB_PLAYERS) October 4, 2017
ALDS: What You Need To Know
With their win over the Minnesota Twins in the American League Wild Card Game, the Yankees are moving on to the American League Divisional Series to face another AL Central foe—the 102-win, division champion Cleveland Indians.
Start time for Sunday night's Game 3 of the ALDS at Yankee Stadium will be at 7:38pm. Gates will open at 5:30pm. pic.twitter.com/ZLqeLKJ7dE
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 4, 2017
With the ALDS being a best-of-five series, the first two games will be in Cleveland. Here’s what the schedule looks like:
- Game 1: Thursday, Oct. 5 at Cleveland, 7:38 p.m. ET
- Game 2: Friday, Oct. 6 at Cleveland, 5:08 p.m. ET
- Game 3: Sunday, Oct. 8 in New York, 7:38 p.m. ET
- Game 4: Monday, Oct. 9 in New York, TBD (if needed)
- Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 11 at Cleveland, TBD (if needed)
