LeMahieu caps incredible year with clutch HR
HOUSTON — DJ LeMahieu’s spectacular first season with the Yankees came to an end in their 6-4 loss in Game 6 of the ALCS, but not without another highlight.
With his team down to its final two outs in the top of the ninth and trailing by a pair of runs, LeMahieu delivered another big blow, this one a two-run homer off Astros closer Roberto Osuna that tied the game at 4 and silenced the crowd at Minute Maid Park.
The turning of the tide didn’t last long, as Jose Altuve crushed the Yankees’ hopes in the bottom of the inning with a game-winning, two-run homer off Aroldis Chapman.
“It kind of embodies his season — that at-bat, so good,’’ manager Aaron Boone said. “Off their closer, obviously. Just a really good battle and spoiled pitches, spoiled pitches, finally got one he could handle and ride out of there. As that at-bat’s going on, I just felt so good about him doing something. I knew he was going to put it in play hard somewhere and sure enough he did. What more can you say about the season he’s had?”
Asked if he thought the Yankees would win and force Game 7 after his dramatic blast, LeMahieu said, “I thought that the whole time.”
What he wasn’t as sure of was that his opposite-field blast would make it to the seats. It just cleared the fence — and the leaping George Springer.
“I thought it had a chance to go out; I just didn’t know if I got robbed or not,’’ LeMahieu said. “It was a crazy game all around. It was a tough way to lose.’’
LeMahieu wasn’t alone in his belief the Yankees had one more game in them.
“DJ had that huge swing of the bat and it was a roller coaster, right back down to the bottom in the bottom of the [ninth] inning,’’ Brett Gardner said. “We fought as hard as we could all year long. We got beat by a really, really good team. This definitely isn’t how we thought the season would end.”
On Saturday, LeMahieu was left regretting missed opportunities as he reflected on a superb season in The Bronx.
“We just came up short,’’ LeMahieu said. “It’s extremely disappointing. We set out to win the whole thing. It’s as tough as it gets.”