Yanks blow big lead as Girardi’s moves backfire in Game 2 crusher
CLEVELAND — The Yankees flushed a five-run lead after battering Corey Kluber because Joe Girardi didn’t challenge a series-changing call that should have ended the home sixth inning but led to a grand slam by Francisco Lindor.
Then, clinging to a one run lead in the eighth a spent David Robertson gave up a leadoff homer to Jay Bruce that tied the score.
In the 11th inning pinch-runner Ronald Torreyes got picked off second by catcher Yan Gomes with nobody out. He was originally ruled safe but the call was over-turned by an Indians challenge.
Finally, in his third inning Dellin Betances gave up a game-winning hit to Gomes that lifted the Indians to a 9-8 victory in 13 innings that gave the Indians a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five ALDS series in front of 37,681 delirious customers at Progressive Field.
So, nine outs from going home tied after two games and preparing for Game 3 Sunday night at Yankee Stadium the Yankees are nine innings away from getting swept into the off-season.
After Gary Sanchez and Aaron Hicks homered off Kluber and Greg Bird went deep against Mike Clevinger the Yankees led, 8-3, going into the home sixth.
Gary Sanchez pumps his fist after hitting a first-inning, two-run home run. Anthony J. Causi Starlin Castro gives a "thumbs down" to the Yankees dugout in celebration of his double in the first inning. Charles Wenzelberg Corey Kluber hands the ball to Terry Francona, as the Yankees force his exit in the third inning. Getty Images CC Sabathia celebrates after a strikeout in the second inning. Getty Images Aaron Hicks (right) jumps up to high-five Starlin Castro after giving the Yankees a big lead with a three-run home run in the third inning. Getty Images Greg Bird (right) meets Didi Gregorius at the plate after hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning. AP Francisco Lindor rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam off Chad Green in the sixth inning. AP Jay Bruce rounds the bases after tying the game on a solo home run off David Robertson in the eighth inning. Getty Images Ad Up Next MTA to test out high-tech train tickets The MTA is testing a program that would allow subway... 8 View Slideshow Back Continue Share this: Facebook
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What happened next will be talked about for a long time and will follow Girardi forever.
CC Sabathia, who was surprisingly pulled after 5 1/3 solid innings, walked Carlos Santana and retired Bruce on a line drive to short. Girardi then called for Green, who worked two innings Tuesday night in the AL wild-card game. He retired Austin Jackson and gave up a double to Yan Gomes.
While Green faced Jackson, Aroldis Chapman got up in the pen and shortly thereafter was throwing hard and then sat down before Gomes doubled off the left-field wall.
Pitching coach Larry Rothschild visited Green and Robertson started throwing in the bullpen. At 0-2 Green hit pinch-hitter Lonnie Chisenhall to load the bases for Lindor.
With Robertson standing on a bullpen mound Lindor drilled a grand slam off the right-field foul pole to make it 8-7 and force Girardi to bring in Robertson.
The 0-2 pitch with two outs to Chisenhall appeared to hit the knob of the bat and was caught by Gary Sanchez. Plate umpire Dan Iassogna called it a hit-by-pitch instead of an inning-ending strikeout.
Standing nearby in the first base dugout Girardi didn’t challenge the call. Girardi then watched Green give up a grand slam to Lindor.
Robertson, who threw a career-high 3 1/3rd innings in the wild-card victory, replaced Green after the slam and retired four straight.
Instead of replacing Robertson, Girardi stuck with him and Bruce led off the eighth with an opposite-field homer to left that tied the score, 8-8.
Sabathia allowed four runs (two earned) and three hits in 5 1/3rd innings and recovered from a rocky start that was hindered by third baseman Todd Frazier making errors in each of the first two innings.