The Yankees aren't going down without a fight.
Justin Verlander took the mound to start Game 5 in the Bronx with a chance to seal the deal for the Astros. But Aaron Boone's team was all over the future hall of famer in the very first inning of play.
DJ LeMahieu hit a solo home run to start the inning, and then Aaron Hicks smacked a three-run shot off the foul pole to give the Yankees the lead.
Hicks to the sticks. --#ALCS pic.twitter.com/eoOlzBxE7Q
— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2019Hicks dropped his bat and swaggered out of the box. He knew it had the distance to leave the park, it was just a question of whether the ball would stay fair.
After the incredibly frustrating loss in Game 4, this is exactly what the Yankees needed to start off a must-win game. Yankee Stadium had been waiting for some offense to cheer, and the stadium erupted when Hicks' blast clanged off the foul pole.
The three-run strike turned out to be the difference in the game, which the Yankees won 4-1. Game 6 is Saturday in Houston.
The Yankees had struggled to capitalize on opportunities to hit with runners in scoring position, so it's a great sign they were able to get over that struggle so early in an elimination game, especially against a pitcher with the quality that Verlander has.
It will still take a tremendous effort to win the series on the road in Texas, but crazier things have happened in October.
