One mighty swing from Greg Bird ensured the New York Yankees would live to fight another day.
The first baseman’s home run in the bottom of the seventh inning off star reliever Andrew Miller lifted the Bronx Bombers to a 1-0 victory over Cleveland Indians in Game 3 of the ALDS to force a Game 4 on Monday.
Cleveland saw its series lead halved to 2-1 after the loss.
Both teams could muster five hits apiece on the night as this game uncharacteristically developed into a pitcher’s duel. Game 2 saw the Indians produce a walk-off 9-8 win in extra innings.
But the Indians could not touch Masahiro Tanaka and the Yankees bullpen. Tanaka went seven sterling innings, allowing just three hits while striking out seven.
Tanaka has to thank Aaron Judge for keeping his line so pristine though as the right fielder robbed Francisco Lindor of a home run in the sixth inning that would’ve given the Indians a 2-0 lead:
In turn, Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco almost matched Tanaka stride for stride, going 5.2 innings and punching out seven of his own.
After Miller came in to finish the sixth inning, he met Bird to lead off the seventh where the young lefty came out on top, launching a no-doubter into the second deck in right field:
New York left the rest of it up to its bullpen, but there were some nervy moments.
After David Robertson surrendered a walk in the eighth, Joe Girardi turned to closer Aroldis Chapman for a five-out save.
He got the first two with no problem to end the eighth with ease before the Indians mounted a rally in the ninth.
A pair of one-out singles by Jason Kipnis and Jose Ramirez put the tying run in scoring position, but Chapman struck out Jay Bruce before getting Carlos Santana to fly out to center to preserve the win.
This was the first time since Game 3 of the 2001 ALDS against the Oakland Athletics that the Yankees won a 1-0 postseason game. That game will forever be remembered for Derek Jeter’s infamous flip play.
Game 4 is scheduled to be played on Monday at 7:08 p.m., but the threat of rain might wash things out. Luis Severino is supposed to face Josh Tomlin as New York looks to knot things bac up in the series.
