The season hangs in the balance after the New York Yankees bats remain inexplicably silent in the Game 4 loss to the Houston Astros.
- New York Yankees 3 (1-3)
- Houston Astros 8 (3-1)
- ALCS, Game 4, Final, Box Score
- Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
The New York Yankees—for the third-straight game—couldn’t cash in when the lights shined brightest. The offense has gone missing in action at the worst possible time.
To make matters worse, the Houston Astros are doing damage with runners on base. A pair of three-run home runs would be enough to keep the Yankees at bay in a pivotal Game 4.
Zack Greinke safely navigated through 4.1 innings, only allowing one run that came during a shaky first inning. Although Greinke wouldn’t last deep into the game, his bullpen provided solid backing. Gary Sanchez‘s two-run homer in the fifth inning was the only blemish during an otherwise strong performance by Houston’s pen.
Gary Sanchez cuts it to a 6-3 deficit in the sixth. Aaron Judge, again, for the second time, doesn't get it done when the Yankees needed it most. #NextManUp pic.twitter.com/gDncTyxzwc
— ESNY (@EliteSportsNY) October 18, 2019
The biggest takeaway from this game is that New York’s big bats came up small. Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres, and Edwin Encarnacion combined to leave 11 guys on base. Time and time again during this series, the Yankees have had opportunities to put up crooked numbers, but failed to come up with the clutch hit.
Once the Astros took a lead, the normally stingy Yankee defense lost its focus. DJ LeMahieu had a tough time with some wicked hops at first, Torres was handcuffed on a short hop, and Didi Gregorius failed to scoop a throw from Judge that would have doubled off Houston’s Yuli Gurriel during a rally in the seventh.
The wheels really came off for these vaunted Yankees.
Masahiro Tanaka didn’t have his swing-and-miss stuff, but he scratched and clawed his way through five innings. His worst moment came in the third inning when he allowed a three-run dinger to George Springer.
SPRINGER DINGER!!!
Astros take a 3-1 lead! pic.twitter.com/dPfwP2aXEi
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 18, 2019
This wasn’t the best version of Tanaka we’ve seen this postseason, but he wasn’t the reason for the loss on Thursday.
During an emotional moment in the eighth inning, CC Sabathia came into a jam created by Adam Ottavino. Sabathia notched two outs before leaving the game with an injury. The left-hander was emotional as he left the field. In all likelihood, it’s the last time Sabathia will pitch and it’s a heartbreaking way to watch his career end.
After appearing to experience some discomfort on the mound, CC Sabathia leaves the game. Yankees fans give him a standing ovation as he walks off the field. pic.twitter.com/rLf7v0vM5s
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 18, 2019
The Yankees are staring down a three-game deficit with Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole locked and loaded for Games 5 and 6. The Yankees are on the brink of elimination and it’s going to take a miracle to save the season.
