Tanaka, Yankees Take Win Third Straight Over Astros
The New York Yankees has kept the Houston Astros' offense quiet all series long, and it's finally paying off for them at Yankee Stadium. Masahiro Tanaka threw seven innings of shutout baseball Wednesday night, as the New York Yankees took a 3-2 ALCS lead with a 5-0 win. Tanaka struck out eight and allowed just three hits, as the Astros have totaled just nine runs through the five games of the series. Dallas Keuchel could not match his series-opening performance, as he gave up four runs in just 4.2 innings for Houston. Gary Sanchez went deep and drove in two, just one day after playing hero in the Yankees' comeback, Game-4 win. Aaron Judge, Did Gregorius, and Greg Bird also drove in runs for the Yankees, who are just one win away from their first pennant since 2009, and 41st overall. They will have to do so on the road, where they dropped the first two games of the series, and now move away from their home, where they've won 19 of the past 22 games. Luis Severino will get the call to try and help the Yankees clinch, while Justin Verlander will go for Houston, who hopes to keep their season alive on Friday night.
Baez, Cubs Force Fifth Game With Dodgers
The Chicago Cubs are not down just yet, as they handed the Los Angeles Dodgers their first loss of the postseason on Wednesday night, 3-2. Javier Baez went deep twice, while Willson Contreras added a solo shot, as Chicago forced a Game 5 on Thursday night. Jake Arrieta earned the win for Chicago by striking out nine over 6.1 innings, and Wade Davis came in and threw 48 pitches for a six-out save to keep the World Series Champs' season alive. Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner both had home runs in the loss for the Dodgers, who had won a team-record six straight postseason games. Bellinger's double play ball in the ninth ended the Dodgers' hopes of clinching a World Series with their second straight postseason sweep. Cubs manager Joe Maddon was ejected in the eighth inning for arguing a foul tip call, when replays showed that Curtis Granderson clearly swung and missed at a ball in the dirt. It was the second ejection of the series for Maddon. The Cubs will have to win three straight to advance to their second straight World Series, as they will send Jose Quintana to the hill in Game 5 to go against Clayton Kershaw.
Giannis, Bucks Spoil Kyrie Irving's Boston Debut
Kyrie Irving and the Boston Celtics were welcomed by a video of Gordon Hayward encouraging his team from the hospital following his gruesome injury in the season opener on Tuesday night. Unfortunately, that was not enough to lift the Celtics over the Milwaukee Bucks in Kyrie Irving's home debut for the Celtics, as they dropped their second straight, 108-100. Giannis Antetokounmpo went off for 37 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Bucks in their opener. The "Greek Freak" said in the postgame "I might be the MVP," and there isn't much case against him early on. The young star scored 16 of his points in the fourth quarter, as the Bucks outscored the Celtics by 12 in the final 12 minutes to pull away. Irving struggled from the field in his TD Garden debut in the green and white, finishing with 17 points on 7-of-25 shooting. Jaylen Brown led Boston with 18 points, while Terry Rozier had 15 points off the bench in the loss. Last season's Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon had 19 points, while Khris Middleton added 15 for Milwaukee, who will host LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. The Celtics are also back in action on Friday when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers.
The New York Yankees has kept the Houston Astros' offense quiet all series long, and it's finally paying off for them at Yankee Stadium. Masahiro Tanaka threw seven innings of shutout baseball Wednesday night, as the New York Yankees took a 3-2 ALCS lead with a 5-0 win. Tanaka struck out eight and allowed just three hits, as the Astros have totaled just nine runs through the five games of the series. Dallas Keuchel could not match his series-opening performance, as he gave up four runs in just 4.2 innings for Houston. Gary Sanchez went deep and drove in two, just one day after playing hero in the Yankees' comeback, Game-4 win. Aaron Judge, Did Gregorius, and Greg Bird also drove in runs for the Yankees, who are just one win away from their first pennant since 2009, and 41st overall. They will have to do so on the road, where they dropped the first two games of the series, and now move away from their home, where they've won 19 of the past 22 games. Luis Severino will get the call to try and help the Yankees clinch, while Justin Verlander will go for Houston, who hopes to keep their season alive on Friday night.
Baez, Cubs Force Fifth Game With Dodgers
The Chicago Cubs are not down just yet, as they handed the Los Angeles Dodgers their first loss of the postseason on Wednesday night, 3-2. Javier Baez went deep twice, while Willson Contreras added a solo shot, as Chicago forced a Game 5 on Thursday night. Jake Arrieta earned the win for Chicago by striking out nine over 6.1 innings, and Wade Davis came in and threw 48 pitches for a six-out save to keep the World Series Champs' season alive. Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner both had home runs in the loss for the Dodgers, who had won a team-record six straight postseason games. Bellinger's double play ball in the ninth ended the Dodgers' hopes of clinching a World Series with their second straight postseason sweep. Cubs manager Joe Maddon was ejected in the eighth inning for arguing a foul tip call, when replays showed that Curtis Granderson clearly swung and missed at a ball in the dirt. It was the second ejection of the series for Maddon. The Cubs will have to win three straight to advance to their second straight World Series, as they will send Jose Quintana to the hill in Game 5 to go against Clayton Kershaw.
Giannis, Bucks Spoil Kyrie Irving's Boston Debut
Kyrie Irving and the Boston Celtics were welcomed by a video of Gordon Hayward encouraging his team from the hospital following his gruesome injury in the season opener on Tuesday night. Unfortunately, that was not enough to lift the Celtics over the Milwaukee Bucks in Kyrie Irving's home debut for the Celtics, as they dropped their second straight, 108-100. Giannis Antetokounmpo went off for 37 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Bucks in their opener. The "Greek Freak" said in the postgame "I might be the MVP," and there isn't much case against him early on. The young star scored 16 of his points in the fourth quarter, as the Bucks outscored the Celtics by 12 in the final 12 minutes to pull away. Irving struggled from the field in his TD Garden debut in the green and white, finishing with 17 points on 7-of-25 shooting. Jaylen Brown led Boston with 18 points, while Terry Rozier had 15 points off the bench in the loss. Last season's Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon had 19 points, while Khris Middleton added 15 for Milwaukee, who will host LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. The Celtics are also back in action on Friday when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers.
