Cole, Yankees Force Decisive Game Five
Bader stays hot, bullpen locks down in ninth
The New York Yankees defeated the Cleveland Guardians 4–2 on Sunday.
The win ties the series at 2–2 as both teams fly to New York to play a decisive game five Monday night.
Gerrit Cole was phenomenal, throwing seven innings of two-run ball. He struck out eight and walked one batter.
It was the exact performance the Yankees asked for and wanted from him.
This type of game is why you pay top dollar for pitchers like Cole.
“This is a dream,” Cole said.
Game summary
Anthony Rizzo started the game with a bang, driving in Gleyber Torres in the first to make it 1–0.
Harrison Bader hit another home run, this one a two-run shot to triple the lead.
José Ramírez made it 3–1 with an RBI single in the third, and Josh Naylor cut the Yankee lead to one with a solo bomb in the fourth.
Giancarlo Stanton tacked on a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to two.
Cole pitched seven strong innings and allowed two runs on six hits.
Clay Holmes threw a scoreless eighth and Wandy Peralta earned the save with a perfect ninth.
Cole (2–0) earned his second win of the postseason.
Offensive notes
Cole may be the MVP of the postseason so far, but Bader has been the offensive MVP in this series.
He is 4-for-14 (.285) with three home runs and four RBI in four games.
Many experts and fans questioned the acquisition of Bader at the trade deadline, especially when they rid themselves of Jordan Montgomery.
It didn’t help that Montgomery was lights out with a sub-one ERA in his first handful of starts with St. Louis.
Bader was on the injured list and wasn’t due back until the end of the season.
The presence of his bat in the lineup has been nothing short of spectacular, and hopefully, it continues in game five.
Pitching notes
Cole delivered.
With all the pressure on him to dominate and eat innings, he did both.
New York only had to use two relievers, arguably their top two weapons, but in a must-win game, it was all or nothing.
As the Yankees still try to find their closer, they may have found one.
Peralta has been spectacular in his appearances this postseason.
If it wasn’t for Aaron Boone’s piss-poor bullpen management in game three, Peralta wouldn’t have a run allowed.
He shut the Guardians down one-two-three in the ninth on Sunday and made a case to Boone and the Yankees that he is one guy you can trust giving the ball to in high-leverage, high-pressure situations.
Looking ahead
Winner takes all Monday in the Bronx.
Jameson Taillon (0–1) will get the ball in what could be the Yankees’ final game this season should they lose.
Should they win, they will move on to face the Houston Astros in the ALCS which starts on Wednesday.
Nine more wins.
Let’s go Yankees!
