Yankees take the first game of the ALCS: Recap

Robby+Sabo%2C+ESNY+Graphic%2C+Getty+Images

Robby Sabo, ESNY Graphic, Getty Images

Anthony Baamonde, Sports Editor

Game one of the highly anticipated American League Championship Series between American League juggernauts, New York Yankees and Houston Astros took place on Oct. 12 at Minute Maid Park in Houston Texas.

The Yankees were coming off almost a weeklong break, after sweeping the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS.

For Houston, however, the Tampa Bay Rays took them the full five-games, only giving the Astros one day of rest.

After four innings of scoreless baseball, and what was setting up to be a pitcher’s duel between Masahiro Tanaka for the Yankees and Zack Greinke for Houston, the Yankees struck first. Thanks to a double by second base phenom, Gleyber Torres, scoring DJ LeMahieu and giving the Bombers a 1-0 lead.

Torres struck again in the sixth inning, hitting a monster home run to left field.

Yankees left fielder, Giancarlo Stanton continued the scoring by blasting a home run of his own; the Yankees lead grew to 3-0.

At this point in the game Tanaka only let up one hit, and that was to Kyle Tucker in the bottom third.

The seventh inning held more of the same for the Yankees.

Gleyber Torres again getting a hit, this time a single to right. This lead to scoring both LeMahieu and Didi Gregorius, expanding the Yankees lead even more to 5-0.

Yankees manager pulled Masahiro Tanaka to put in a reliever, Adam Ottavino. Tanaka pitched perfectly; 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, and 4 K. This is also Tanaka’s second win of the postseason this year making him 2-0.

Zack Greinke’s night was over after the 6th inning; 6 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, and 6 K. This was Greinke’s second loss of this year’s postseason, making him 0-2.

In the 9th inning, Yankee’s third baseman, Gio Urshela hit a home run to make the game 6-0.

Later on, Gleyber Torres notched his 5th RBI of the game, scoring LaMahieu again.

Aroldis Chapman came out of the bullpen to finish the job and cap the game 1 victory for the Bombers.

The Yankees did everything right to take the first game from Houston and apply some pressure for game two.

Tanaka had a great game, and the bullpen, although they gave up some hits and walked a few batters, they held steady.

Gleyber Torres was absolutely unbelievable, going 3-4 at the plate. For the most part, the Yankees were sound defensively.

Some players do need to step up a little bit however, catcher, Gary Sanchez has been practically invisible the entire postseason, hitting a mere .167.

The same goes for shortstop, Didi Gregorius, although he hit a grand slam in game two of the ALDS.

New York looks to carry this momentum into game 2 on Oct. 13. The starters will be James Paxton for the Yankees and the dangerous Justin Verlander for the Astros. Verlander, however, was banged up in game 4 of the ALDS, so who knows what that will do to him.