ZCZC
BSP-01
BASEBALL-MLB-USA
Yankees strike early against Verlander, Yankees
NEW YORK, Oct 19, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – DJ LeMahieu and Aaron Hicks homered as
New York rocked star Houston pitcher Justin Verlander for four runs in the
first inning Friday in a 4-1 win that kept the Yankees alive in the Major
League Baseball playoffs.
The Yankees, whose 40 World Series appearances have yielded 27
championships — the most recent in 2009 — pushed the American League
Championship Series to a game six in Houston, pulling within 3-2 in the best-
of-seven set.
With their backs against the wall, the first five Yankees batters produced
four runs against Houston’s Cy Young Award candidate Verlander.
LeMahieu led off by lashing a home run to right field.
Aaron Judge then singled sharply and Gleyber Torres followed with a double.
Verlander managed to strike out Giancarlo Stanton, back in the lineup as a
designated hitter, but Hicks belted a three-run home run off the right field
foul pole.
“I was just trying to get a pitch to hit,” said Hicks, who fell behind 0-2
in the count and worked his way back to 3-2. “I was in battle mode right
there.”
The offensive outburst roused the crowd at Yankee Stadium, who had been
quieted when Houston’s George Springer scored on a wild pitch from Yankees
starting pitcher James Paxton.
All the scoring came in the first inning.
Verlander settled in to pitch seven solid innings, surrendering five hits
with the four runs and nine strikeouts.
Paxton pitched six strong innings and New York’s relievers held the lead to
push the series to game six on Saturday. The quick turnaround comes after
weather concerns wiped out play on Wednesday, pushing back games four and
five in New York.
The Astros — who would host game seven if necessary on Sunday, are seeking
their second World Series title in three years.
Hicks was delighted to be making the trip to Texas.
“I don’t want to go home,” he said. “This is too fun.”
The winner of the series will take on the Washington Nationals in Major
League Baseball’s championship showcase.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0914 hrs