Yankees start fast, advance to face Sox
Aaron Judge got the party started with a two-run homer in the first inning, Luis Severino atoned for flopping in his postseason debut last year and the New York Yankees beat the Oakland Athletics, 7-2, Wednesday night in the American League wild-card game at Yankee Stadium.
Judge’s drive off starter-turned-reliever Liam Hendriks got New York going, and the Yankees cruised into the AL Division Series. They’ll face the rival Boston Red Sox in the postseason for the first time since the 2004 AL Championship Series. Game 1 is Friday at Fenway Park.
Late-season spark Luke Voit added a two-run triple in the sixth off closer Blake Treinen, setting off one of the boisterous Bronx celebrations that used to be an October staple. Giancarlo Stanton added a towering drive that just stayed fair in the eighth off Treinen in his postseason debut.
The A’s have lost eight straight winner-take-all postseason games.
Russell suspended for domestic violence: Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell was suspended 40 games for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic abuse policy, the league announced Wednesday.
Russell’s suspension is retroactive to Sept. 21 and the league said in a statement says he has agreed to not appeal the ban.
The statement says Russell “will participate in a confidential and comprehensive evaluation and treatment program supervised by the Joint Policy Board.” Russell’s suspension will be unpaid. Russell’s ex-wife, Melisa Reidy, wrote in a blog post in September that Russell physically abused her during their 2½-year marriage.
MLB placed Russell on administrative leave on Sept. 21.
Orioles fire Showalter, Duquette: The Baltimore Orioles will continue their rebuilding project without manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette, who were fired Wednesday after the team finished with the worst record in the major leagues.
With Duquette procuring the talent and Showalter making it work on the field, Baltimore snapped a run of 14 straight losing seasons and made the playoffs in 2012, 2014 and 2016.
But the Orioles finished 75-87 in 2017 – losing 19 of their final 23 games – and this year staggered through a 47-115 season, the worst since the team moved to Baltimore in 1954.
Maddon will be back, but no extension talks: Theo Epstein says Joe Maddon will return for a fifth season as manager of the Chicago Cubs.
Chicago’s president of baseball operations confirmed Maddon will stay on for at least the final year of his contract. Epstein says there are no ongoing discussions about an extension for Maddon.
Though he acknowledged some disagreements, Epstein insists he has a “terrific” relationship with Maddon.
Maddon is 387-261-1 in four years with Chicago – 95-68 this season. He has led the Cubs to the NLCS three times and a drought-busting World Series championship in 2016.