Red-hot Bombers ready for ALCS rematch vs. Astros
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The last time the Yankees saw the Astros they had a very strong chance to make an improbable World Series appearance.
After losing consecutive 2-1 decisions in the first two games of the 2017 ALCS to the Astros in Houston, the Yankees won three straight in The Bronx and suddenly they were one win away from the World Series.
Instead, Justin Verlander turned their bats to dust in Game 6 at Minute Maid Park and Luis Severino didn’t get out of the f ifth inning in a 7-1 defeat.
That set up a Game 7 the next night and Charlie Morton and Lance McCullers combined to top Verlander’s effort by limiting the Yankees to three hits on the way to a 4-0 victory in which CC Sabathia gave up a run, five hits and three walks in 3 ¹/3 innings.
Starting Monday night in Houston, the Yankees and the defending World Series champion Astros meet for the first time this season and the pain of October has subsided.
“Not so much, maybe a little bit,’’ Brett Gardner said Sunday when asked if getting eliminated by the Astros might serve as motivation. “If you asked me that in November or December I might have given you a different answer. Obviously, when you lose it eats at you during the offseason. Once spring training and the new season starts it’s different.’’
According to Gardner, the team in the first-base dugout at Minute Maid Park might have more talent than the World Series winners.
“They won the World Series and they have a better team than at this point last year,’’ Gardner said of the As- tros, who didn’t have stud right-handers Verlander and Gerrit Cole last April. “It will be challenge but we are looking forward to it.’’
Verlander arrived in Houston at the July trade deadline and Cole, who the Yankees chased, was acquired from the Pirates in the offseason. Former Yankees third-base coach Joe Espada is the Astros’ bench coach.
Of course, the Yankees didn’t stand still in the offseason, adding Giancarlo Stanton to the lineup and hiring Aaron Boone to replace Joe Girardi.
Chase Headley, the Yan- kees’ DH in Games 6 and 7 is a Padre. Stanton had been used by Boone as the DH in 12 games. Second baseman Starlin Castro has been replaced by Gleyber Torres. Third baseman Todd Frazier left The Bronx for Queens. His old job is being handled quite well by Miguel Andujar, who could get bumped when Brandon Drury comes off the disabled list. First baseman Greg Bird is on the DL due to ankle surgery. Tyler Austin returns from a four-game suspension Tuesday and the Yankees hope the time away didn’t cool a bat that produced a .349 (15- for-43) average with three homers, 13 RBIs and a 1.091 OPS in 11 games before he was suspended.
Joe Torre was fond of saying baseball is a game in which you have to prove yourself to yourself every day.
So far the Yankees — 18-9 and 2 games back of the AL East-leading Red Sox after Sunday night’s 2-1 victory over the Angels — have proved to everybody they are a force and not only at the plate where they were expected to wreck pitching staffs and led the majors in five categories.