Déjà vu with New York down 0-2
Yankees hoping for repeat of ALDS win over Indians as they return to the Bronx
NEW YORK— A little more than a week ago, the Yankees found themselves in this same 0-2 series hole against a 100-plus wins team.
They rallied from that deficit against Cleveland by winning the final three games, and remain confident even with the odds against them in this ALCS against Houston.
“We don’t give up, we’re going to fight to the end,” Yankees lefty CC Sabathia said. “It’s a good team we’re playing but I feel like we’ve been right there in both games. Get beat (2-1) and then 2-1, we’re right there. Couple things go our way, could be up 2-0.”
With their backs against the wall, the Yankees are going to have to try to pull a repeat from the ALDS and start their rally in the Bronx. The next three games of the series will be played at Yankee Stadium, and the Yankees hope their bats will come to life.
Sabathia opposes Houston sinkerball righty Charlie Morton.
“(The ALDS) should give our players confidence going into this,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
“We are facing a very good team and we know we have not done a lot offensively, but we pitched really well. If we continue to do that, you are going have a shot. Understand we were down 2-0 to a team that won 102 games and were able to come back. Go out and do whatever it takes to win a game (Monday) and see where you’re at.”
For as dire a situation as the Yankees are currently in, they faced even longer odds one round ago against Cleveland. They trailed 2-0 after a devastating Game 2 loss in extra innings, and Cleveland needed just one more win to clinch the series.
The Yankees rallied for a 1-0 win in Game 3 before their bats exploded in a Game 4 victory, and they used two homers from Didi Gregorius to tri- umph 5-2 in Game 5.
The ALCS has followed suit with the Yankees losing both games to start the series, and another brutal walk-off loss in Game 2. The Astros won on a double by Carlos Correa when Gary Sanchez bobbled a throw at home plate with a chance to tag out Jose Altuve, who began the play on first base.
“This team has been exactly the same it’s been all year. It’s evenkeeled. Up, down, whatever, we’re always the same and pick each other up and enjoy each other’s company. It was no different (Saturday)” Sabathia said. “It’s been like that throughout this whole playoff run. These young kids we have are very mature, don’t have to say much to them. Just go out and stay the course and try to keep winning ball games.”
Sabathia has been particularly impressed by the ability of the young players’ to not be fazed despite the deficits they’ve faced this post-season.
“I don’t know it’s maturity or just being dumb, they don’t know,” Sabathia said.
“We’re all the same. The team is really good at doing that for a young team.”
For the Yankees to have any shot at winning this series, the hitters will need to rebound after a tough stretch against Dallas Keuchel and Justin Verlander.
The Yankees batted .159 (10-for-63) in Houston while striking out 27 times.
Sanchez and Aaron Judge are a combined 1-for-14 with eight strikeouts in the ALCS, and the Yankees offence lags when those two are not hitting. Girardi believes Sanchez, who is hitting .176 in the playoffs, is chasing more pitches than usual.
Girardi is not contemplating any lineup changes, and is confident in his young stars. The Yankees hit better this year at Yankee Stadium than in road venues.
“I feel good about them,” Girardi said of Judge and Sanchez. “We’ve counted on them all year, we’ve believed in them and I think they’re going to come out of it.”