Shannon Wasson ‘23
Back in usual territory, the Yankees advanced to the American League Championship Series on Tuesday night. Taking on the Cleveland Guardians, New York won by a score of 5-1 in game 5, cementing their rightful place in the next round.
Despite a rocky start of only winning one out of the first three games, the Yanks seemingly made up for their mistakes later on in the series. Securing a strong win in game 4, favor started to turn New York’s way.
The Clevelands Guardians' strong lineup of third baseman José Ramírez and shortstop Amed Rosario caused many issues for the Yankees throughout the series. Nevertheless, New York seemingly put these setbacks behind them, cruising through Cleveland in game 5.
From the first to ninth inning, New York held a strong front, rarely giving Cleveland a sniff. The opponent’s overall decision to continue to use pitcher Aaron Civale in the first inning largely cost them. Runs by both Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge put the Yankees in a prime position early on.
On the other side, Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes displayed his All-Star ability for all of the Bronx to see. Routinely pitching for five innings, Cortes kept the opposition at bay with his one-run ball. Even only after receiving a short rest, Cortes helped the Yanks position remain in a winning stance.
Rotating pitchers for the game, the Yankees once again showcased the diversity and ability of their large squad. With the use of Jonathan Loáisiga, Clay Holmes, and Wandy Peralta on the pitcher’s mound, all threats were comfortably dealt with.
The Yankees are set to begin the ALCS on Wednesday night, taking on the Houston Astros. After flooring the Seattle Mariners in three games, Houston looks once again towards the World Series. Having visibly shown the first-rate success of the team, the Astros will not be an easy opponent for New York.
As the seven-game series approaches, the Yankees have gained some traction, but will need to dig deep to take on the Texan powerhouse.
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