YANK GAME DAY

The Yankees’ first postseason appearance since 2015 lived up to every Bronx baseball fan’s expectations, and then some, after the Bombers won a back-and-forth, pitching merry-go-round AL wild-card game, 8-4, over the Twins to advance to the AL Division Series against the Indians. By the time Aaron Judge drilled his first career postseason home run — a two-run shot in the fourth inning off Twins reliever Jose Berrios that caused Yankee Stadium to shake from the raucous cheers — the starting pitchers for both clubs were long gone. Yankee ace Luis Severino, who was 14-6 with a 2.98 ERA this season, wilted on the big stage in his postseason debut, lasting only a third of an inning. He gave up three runs on two homers by Brian Dozier and Eddie Rosario. Minnesota veteran Ervin Santana was equally awful, pitching two innings and surrendering four runs.

Righthanded reliever Chad Green replaced Severino, who walked off to a thunder of boos, and Green promptly struck out Byron Buxton and Jason Castro with two men on to end the first inning and escape further damage.

Green lasted two innings before David Robertson entered in relief in the third inning with one out and the bases loaded. The Twins tied the game, 4-4, when Byron Buxton hit an RBI groundout, with the run charged to Green. Robertson struck out Castro to end the third and the wiry right-hander pitched 3.1 scoreless innings on the night.

Before Judge's laser to left gave the Yankees some cushion, Didi Gregorius had socked a three-run home run in the bottom of the first to tie the game, 3-3. Brett Gardner put the Bombers ahead briefly with a twoout, solo home run to right in the second inning.