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Cole gives Yanks 'special-player effort' in G5

On short rest for 1st time, righty K's 9 in 5 1/3 to cap 1st NYY season
@MandyBell02
October 10, 2020

Gerrit Cole never thought twice about pitching on short rest for the first time in his career. After starting, and winning, Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Rays on Monday, he had his mind set on getting the ball again in Game 5. And on Friday

Rays outlast Yankees in epic finale

@juanctoribio
October 10, 2020

Maybe this is how it needed to happen. In every way, the Rays and Yankees rivalry is seen as a battle between David and Goliath. The Yankees are the franchise with 27 World Series championships, endless traditions, retired numbers, a fancy Spring Training facility in Tampa and a seemingly limitless

Brosseau vs. Chapman: Pitch by pitch

Inside the 10-pitch battle that decided the ALDS
@AndrewSimonMLB
October 10, 2020

The one-on-one battle between batter and pitcher is what baseball is all about, and Friday night’s Game 5 of the American League Division Series between the Rays and Yankees created a perfect example. The stage was set: winner-take-all game, bottom of the eighth inning, 1-1 tie. The 6-foot-4, fireballing left-hander

'Ending is cruel': Yanks stunned by G5 drama

In rematch after tense incident, Aroldis allows decisive homer
October 10, 2020

It was a poetic showdown, perhaps the inevitable conclusion in this clash of American League East titans who made no secret of their mutual dislike. Aroldis Chapman on the mound and Mike Brosseau at the plate, reprising roles from an incident that cleared the benches a coast away five weeks

'What if' looms large for Judge after G5 loss

RF homers, later denied HR robbery by Petco Park wall
@MandyBell02
October 10, 2020

Every season-ending loss comes with dozens of “what if” scenarios. What if a team would have capitalized with runners in scoring position? What if a pitcher would have made a different pitch selection? But Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge’s “what if” scenario is a little more unique: What if there wasn’t

9 key facts that defined Yanks-Rays ALDS G5

@SlangsOnSports
October 10, 2020

The only winner-take-all game of the 2020 Division Series lived up to the hype -- and then some -- with the Rays winning thanks to a go-ahead home run from Michael Brosseau off none other than Aroldis Chapman in the eighth inning. The Rays’ 2-1 victory on Friday night clinched

Yanks honor Whitey with No. 16 patch in G5

'Chairman of the Board' passed away peacefully while watching G4
October 10, 2020

The Yankees wore Whitey Ford’s uniform No. 16 on their left sleeves as they took the field for Friday’s decisive Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the Rays. According to the team, Ford passed away peacefully at his home in Lake Success, N.Y., while watching Thursday’s Game

Yankees' bullpen 'ready to go' in Game 5

October 9, 2020

The Yankees believed that the bullpens would be a separating factor in this American League Division Series, preparing for the possibility of five games in five days. That has come to fruition, and Zack Britton said that his fellow relievers are prepared whenever the call comes in Friday’s Game 5.

NYY-TB Game 5 lineups, FAQ (TBS, 7 ET)

@juanctoribio
October 9, 2020

The Rays and Yankees have had their fair share of battles throughout the years, but they’ve never been matched up in a win-or-go-home scenario. Until now. With a 5-1 win on Thursday, the Yankees forced a decisive Game 5 on Friday night in San Diego. The pitching duel will light

Yanks have chance to make things right

@MikeLupica
October 9, 2020

Aaron Boone took it all after Game 2, when the Yankees had a chance to go ahead 2-0 on the Rays. He’s the manager of the Yankees and it’s part of the deal, even after Boone won 100 games in his first two years managing them, something that had never

Rays can't vanquish Yanks, take ALDS to limit

After bats go cold in G4, stage set for decisive G5 between East foes
@juanctoribio
October 9, 2020

When the Rays got word that the Yankees would be their opponent in the American League Division Series, they felt confident about the matchup, having gone 8-2 vs. the Yankees during the regular season. But it hasn’t taken long for Tampa Bay to recognize just how difficult it will be

Ace Cole gets Game 5: It's 'why we paid him'

October 9, 2020

Gerrit Cole had a good view of the final out of Thursday’s Game 4 of the American League Division Series, clapping his hands as an Aroldis Chapman fastball sealed the Yankees’ 5-1 victory, forcing a winner-take-all Game 5 on Friday at Petco Park. Though it came as no surprise to

With season on line, here's what Yanks need

@MandyBell02
October 9, 2020

When Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu was asked before Game 4 of the American League Division Series about the pressure that comes with facing elimination, he responded, “I feel like we play our best when our backs are against the wall.” The remark held true on Thursday night as the Yanks

Yanks' swagger is back: 'We're gonna win' G5

October 9, 2020

The Yankees’ swagger returned with one swing early on Thursday evening, Luke Voit dropping his bat and eyeing a monstrous second-inning drive. The frustration of the previous two nights evaporated into the Southern California haze, sparking optimism that this clash of division titans will be remembered as a comeback story.

'Bring the energy': Rays' keys to winning G5

Glasnow starts on 2 days' rest; Lowe, Choi, Fairbanks in spotlight
October 9, 2020

Even after Thursday night's 5-1 loss to the Yankees in Game 4 of the American League Division Series at Petco Park, the Rays remain one win away from advancing to their second AL Championship Series in franchise history. They’ll just have to work a little harder to get there.

Role in flux, Jansen unavailable for Game 3

Did Mookie coordinate Game 2's most overlooked play?
October 8, 2020

Having pitched on back to back nights, Dodgers reliever Kenley Jansen was unavailable to pitch in Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Thursday night, manager Dave Roberts said.

Randy Arozarena has a huge fan ... himself

Here are 4 incredible facts to get to know the Rays' postseason star
October 8, 2020

Every day, the Rays learn more and more about breakout star Randy Arozarena. So do the Yankees. So does the baseball world at large.

Richards replaces Drake for Rays in ALDS

October 8, 2020

Major League Baseball announced on Thursday that it has approved a roster substitution for the Tampa Bay Rays due to an injury sustained by pitcher Oliver Drake. As a result, Drake will be replaced by right-handed pitcher Trevor Richards on Tampa Bay’s American League Division Series roster vs. the New

Rays-Yankees Gm. 4 lineups, FAQ (TBS, 7 ET)

@juanctoribio
October 8, 2020

Throughout this American League Division Series, the Rays and Yankees have been housed under the red-tile terracotta roof of a posh resort in Carlsbad, Calif., approximately 40 miles north of where their battles have taken place on the Petco Park diamond. With one more victory, Tampa Bay could have the

A-Rod critical of Yanks'  G2 pitching strategy

October 8, 2020

Retired slugger Alex Rodriguez had strong words of criticism toward his former team, the Yankees, following New York’s 8-4 loss to the Rays in Wednesday’s Game 3 of the American League Division Series.

If it's the end, not the one Tanaka hoped for

October 8, 2020

The introductory gala was held on a Tuesday morning in February 2014, the touted right-hander proudly displaying a jersey with No. 19 stitched upon the back. The Majors’ newest star announced in practiced English: “Hello, my name is Masahiro Tanaka. I am very happy to be a Yankee.” As Tanaka

Classic Chuck: Morton sets table for outburst

October 8, 2020

Shortly after helping the Rays capture Wednesday’s pivotal 8-4 win over the Yankees in Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Petco Park, Charlie Morton thought back to one of his first conversations with Tampa Bay brass.

Arozarena amazes: 'No words to describe it'

Rays' rookie homers in 3rd straight, now 12-for-20 in postseason
@juanctoribio
October 8, 2020

After Randy Arozarena’s unbelievable start to the postseason, Tyler Glasnow called him “the best baseball player on earth right now.” Austin Meadows joked that he needs to follow Arozarena around to find out his secret. The Rays might be on to something.

Stanton's HR streak sets Yankees record

@MandyBell02
October 8, 2020

Giancarlo Stanton may have had a quiet ending to the 2020 regular season, but it’s hard to be more locked in at the plate than the slugger has been since the postseason got underway. In the eighth inning of Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Wednesday, Stanton

Montgomery makes must-win playoff debut

Lefty yet to appear in postseason: 'I've been waiting since 2017'
@MandyBell02
October 8, 2020

Jordan Montgomery has been dreaming of this moment for three years. Maybe the 27-year-old wasn’t expecting his postseason debut to come with the added pressure of the Yankees’ 2020 season being on the line, but those are the cards he’s been dealt after New York’s 8-4 loss to Tampa Bay