Bronx Bombers win to advance to ALCS
CLEVELAND Didi Gregorius, following in the October footprints left by Derek Jeter, homered twice off Corey Kluber as the New York Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians 5-2 in Game 5 Wednesday night to complete their comeback from a 2-0 deficit in the series and dethrone the AL champions.
These bend-but-don’t-break Yankees staved off elimination for the fourth time in this post-season and advanced to play the Houston Astros in the AL Championship Series starting Friday at Minute Maid Park. After winning twice in New York, the Yankees — with little offensive help from rookie star Aaron Judge — came into Progressive Field and finished off Cleveland, a team that won 102 games during the regular season, ripped off a historic 22-game streak and was favoured to get back to the World Series after losing in seven games a year ago to the Chicago Cubs.
Cleveland’s World Series drought turns 70 next year.
The Indians closed to 3-2 in the fifth against starter CC Sabathia before David Robertson pitched 22/3 hitless innings for the win. Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman worked two innings for the save.
Chapman went to the mound with a three-run lead in the ninth after Brett Gardner battled Cody Allen for 12 pitches before hitting an RBI single, with New York’s fifth run scoring when Todd Frazier raced home on right fielder Jay Bruce’s throwing error.
Gardner’s gritty at-bat was symbolic of these Yankees. They wouldn’t give in.
When Austin Jackson was called out on strikes to end it, the Yankees rushed to the mound to celebrate.
NATIONALS 5, CUBS 0
Earlier in Chicago, Stephen Strasburg shook off an illness and all doubts about his mettle to pitch seven dominant innings, Michael A. Taylor hit a late grand slam and the Washington Nationals beat the Cubs 5-0 to send their NL Division Series to a decisive Game 5.
The teams packed up at Wrigley Field and headed back to Washington for Game 5 Thursday night. Kyle Hendricks starts for the Cubs after throwing seven sharp innings in a 3-0 victory in Game 1. Gio Gonzalez is the likely starter for the Nationals, with Max Scherzer lurking in the bullpen.