Judge shines in Yankees victory over Twins

He was historically bad. Dozier homered into the left-field seats on a 99 miles per hour fastball and Rosario lined a slider just over the right-field short porch.

“I was nervous before the game, but after the first pitch was thrown it’s still the same ballgame, ” Judge said after his two-hit, three-run, two-RBI night, becoming only the third Yankees rookie to homer in his postseason debut, joining Shane Spencer (1998) and Elston Howard (1955).

Robertson carried the biggest burden of the Yankees’ bullpen relay after the Twins clobbered starter Luis Severino.

“I remember thinking at the time”. Joe Mauer is the only holdover on Minnesota’s active roster from its previous playoff appearance seven years ago. The best-of-five ALDS begins Thursday at Progressive Field. “Things worked out for us”. After Buxton stole second, Robertson struck out Juan Castro to strand runners on second and third. He was mad and he let Santana know it.

“Normally, I just jog after a home run, ” Gregorius said, but he felt himself carried around the bases, wanting to race back into a euphoric dugout.

Judge hit a line-drive, two-run homer in the fourth inning to make it 7-4.

Minnesota’s Brian Dozier started the game with a homer and Eddie Rosario rocked a two-run shot as the Twins took an early lead that stunned the 49,280 fans that came out to Yankee Stadium to support their team.

And given the intensity of the Yanks’ games down the stretch, Gardner feels good about where the club is right now. 2017 was also only their second winning season since 2010. But this was a one-game season at Yankee Stadium. He can run a little bit, puts the ball in play, and has power.

Sano served as a pinch-hitter on Friday and made two starts at designated hitter against the Tigers on Saturday and Sunday, going 1-for-8 with three strikeouts while struggling with offspeed pitches. If they can keep that attitude up as the games continue to get bigger, they can play with any team in baseball.

“I don’t want to be in that situation and lose that game like that”, Severino said. The Yankees lost in the ALCS to the Texas Rangers after six games. Those guys were phenomenal. Especially in games against playoff-bound teams like Boston and Houston, Gardner would chat with Judge, Jacoby Ellsbury or Aaron Hicks in the outfield during breaks in the action and “talk about the atmosphere and how great and how special it is”. After the Indians went on a mind-blowing 22-game win streak, there was no chance that any team in the division was going to catch them. They continued their practice of having a “press conference” in the dugout after a home run.