DOWN 2-0, GIRARDI SAYS YANKEES WILL STICK TO THE PLAN

Big bats got Bombers to the playoffs, so the sluggers will swing, Rob Longley writes.

Perhaps stubbornly, NEW YORK Joe Girardi says if his New York Yankees are to go down in this ALCS, they will go down swinging.

So there will be no lineup changes for Game 3 of the best-of-seven series against the Houston Astros on Monday, and no panic from the manager’s office either.

Through the lens of the veteran Yankees skipper, there is no cause for change.

“You know, one or two hits away from being 2-0,” Girardi said Sunday at Yankee Stadium, where the Bronx Bombers hope to fight their way back into the series after losing the first two in Houston. “So I don’t see many changes.

“Obviously, would you rather be 1-1 or 2-0 the other way? Well, yeah — but there’s no panic in them. They’re going to do what they do and see where the chips fall.”

Girardi’s argument is sensible enough. In a pair of 2-1 losses at Minute Maid Park, the Yankees were indeed a hit or big defensive play away from a win in each game.

Unfortunately, they didn’t get either. Perhaps most painfully, they bobbled a chance to gun down Astros speedster Jose Altuve at the plate and avoid a ninth-inning walk-off loss in Game 2.

In Game 3, the Yankees will face Astros sinkerball specialist Charlie Morton who, while no slouch, could offer a break from the brilliance offered by Dallas Keuchel and Justin Verlander in games 1 and 2.

The Yankees have had strong efforts from their pitchers as well and hope to get another from veteran lefty C.C. Sabathia on Monday.

“We know that we have not done a lot offensively, but we have pitched very well too,” Girardi said. “And if we continue to do that, you’re going to have a shot.

“We understand that we were down 2-0 (in the ALDS against the Cleveland Indians) to a team that won 102 games, and were able to come back. Just go out and do whatever it takes to win a game and see where you’re at.”

CHILD’S PLAY

The deeper the Yankees dig themselves, the more attention gets piled on young sluggers Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez who are a combined one for 14 in the series with eight strikeouts.

“These young kids are mature. You don’t have to say much to them,” Sabathia said. “I don’t know if it’s maturity or just being dumb — they don’t know. This team is really good (at bouncing back) for a young team.”

In contrast to Judge and Sanchez, the Astros are getting massive production from Altuve and Carlos Correa, who are a combined eight for 15 in the ALCS.

“Those two provide so much for us and can literally carry us any given game or any given series,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said.

As for Judge and Sanchez, Hinch believes they can be heard from at any moment.

“They’re taking good swings against good pitching,” he said.

WHAT PRESSURE?

Hinch is aware there is still work to be done in the series — “It’s not the best of two,” he said — but he’s adamant his team isn’t intimidated by the magnitude of the moment.

The Yankees may have led the AL with 54 home wins and will have a raucous crowd behind them on Monday, but the Astros intend to feed off the atmosphere.

“We love being here. We’re happy to be in this situation,” Hinch said Sunday.

“We’ve worked our tails off to get to this point in the season and we want our guys to embrace it.”

Perhaps that calm has helped with one of the other key aspects of the series — the Astros’ precision on defence and in baserunning, clutch elements in the tight first two games of the series.

“To play clean baseball is what I’m most proud of,” Hinch said. “Being able to make those relay throws, some of the running plays — those are the small plays that don’t get talked about a lot, but they’re hugely appreciated in the winning environment.”

We know that we have not done a lot offensively, but we have pitched very well too … if we continue to do that, you’re going to have a shot.

QUICK HITS

The Yankees trail 0-2 in the ALCS for just the third time in franchise history. The other two times they were swept — in 1980 by the Kansas City Royals and in 2012 by the Detroit Tigers … Hinch said he’s yet to decide on a starter for Tuesday’s Game 4.