Torres, Giancarlo Stanton and Gio Urshela all hit solo home runs as the Yankee offense scored seven runs on 13 hits against five Astro pitchers.
The Yankees would score first in the top of the fourth inning. DJ LeMahieu led off the inning with a single through the left side of the infield, then a batter after LeMahieu advanced to second on a wild pitch, Torres doubled in the left center field gap to plate LeMahieu.
Alex Bregman was the first Astro to reach base to start an inning when he drew a leadoff walk against Tanaka in the fifth. He was quickly erased when Yordan Alvarez smoked a ball into right center that Aaron Judge tracked down, and then threw Bregman out at first for the double play after Bregman stumbled on his way back to first.
DENIED. #ALCS pic.twitter.com/Eyc0vAIQXA
— MLB (@MLB)
October 13, 2019 An inning later, the Yankees would tack on a pair of runs on two solo homers. With one out, Torres ambushed a first pitch fastball from Greinke into the Crawford Boxes, then Stanton would hit an opposite field home run into the Astros’ bullpen.
One for Baby ...#NextManUp pic.twitter.com/KankKNwkUt
— New York Yankees (@Yankees)
October 13, 2019 Torres would cause more damage for Astros’ pitching in the seventh inning. After three straight singles from Didi Gregorius, LeMahieu and Judge, Torres would bloop a 3-2 pitch in front of Springer that scored two.
GLEYBER AGAIN.This kid is something special. #ALCS pic.twitter.com/CMn48W9seZ
— MLB (@MLB)
October 13, 2019 The Yankees added two more insurance runs in the ninth when Urshela led off the inning with a home run off of Bryan Abreu, who was making his playoff debut. Later in the inning, Torres would drive in his fifth run on a ground out that scored LeMahieu.
The savages don't stop. #ALCS pic.twitter.com/MNSciZtB7c
— MLB (@MLB)
October 13, 2019 Tanaka earned the win as he pitched six shutout innings facing the minimum 18 hitters. In those six innings, Tanaka allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out four. With his performance, Tanaka lowered his career postseason ERA to 1.32 which ranks third in MLB history for starters who have made seven starts according to MLB Stats.
The #postseason is the ultimate Tanaka Time. pic.twitter.com/Wj3GTXkS2B
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats)
October 13, 2019 Meanwhile, Greinke was the losing pitcher as he tossed six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out six.
Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday at 7 p.m. as Justin Verlander will start for the Astros with the Yankees countering with James Paxton.
