ALDS score and score s’more
We learned rather quickly that pitching would not dominate the ALDS. On the contrary, hitting was front and center of the first day of the ALDS and will likely be what decides the week of action. In the two games, we saw 27 total runs. We already knew that this season’s playoffs would be unlike any other and now we can anticipate a high-scoring ALDS.
Houston Astros-Oakland A’s
The A’s finally advanced in a playoffs series last week for the first time in 14 years. In the first 3 innings of play, the A’s looked like they picked up where they left off from last week, building a 3-0 cushion. Shortly after, we were reminded why the A’s aren’t expected to advance to the Championship Series. The Astros started piling on the runs, 3 in the fourth and 4 in the sixth inning and suddenly the Astros had a 7-5 lead. The highly regarded A’s bullpen was fully exposed by the Astros lineup as they were able to drive in runs with base hits and the occasional long ball.
The Astros might be playing with a revenge tour on their mind. We discovered a cheating scandal that was the biggest the game has seen since the steroid era. The Astros are trying to win to prove that they can without cheating. With the baseball world rooting against them, they want to embrace being the villain.
New York Yankees-Tampa Bay Rays
Giancarlo Stanton’s game-sealing grand slam will likely be what most people remember from this game. The third homer for the Bronx Bombers sealed the 9-3 victory and puts the Yankees in the driver seat for this series. Let us not forget how close the game was until the top of the ninth inning.
Gerrit Cole surrendered 3 runs in six innings. Any Yankees fan was still reminded why Gerrit Cole was signed this past off-season. Gerrit Cole tossed 8 strikeouts, including a 100 MPH high heat pitch to end the fifth inning. Cole is the ace the Yankees have lacked in recent years. He is expensive but can win games on the biggest stage.
The Rays initially looked to be in control of the game. The Ji Man Choi home run gave the Rays the 3-2 lead and it looked like Blake Snell was about to find his rhythm on the mound. Even after the Yankees took the 4-3 lead, the Rays were still hanging in the game. The ninth inning was a knockout punch that reminded us why the Yankees are favored in the series. The Rays had the best regular season in the American League, but October is when the stars take over games. The Yankees displayed the star power that appears to be lacking from the Tampa Bay roster.
