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Friday 13 OctOber 2017
Yanks complete comeback, beat Indians 5-2 in Game 5 of ALDS

By TOM WITHERS Yankee Stadium.
AP Sports Writer But these Yankees dis-
CLEVELAND (AP) — These played pinstriped pride
young Yankees were un- and pulled Girardi off the
shaken, resilient and as hook.
tough as the city they rep- “I had a hole in my heart
resent. for about five or six days,”
The baby Bronx Bombers he said.
have grown up fast. It’s healed now.
Didi Gregorius, following in JUDGE NOT
the October footprints left The Yankees advanced
by Derek Jeter, homered without much help from
twice off Corey Kluber as Judge, who struck out
New York beat the Cleve- four times in Game 5 and
land Indians 5-2 in Game went 1 for 20 (.050) in the
5 on Wednesday night to series with 16 strikeouts —
complete its comeback an ALDS record. But the
from a 2-0 deficit in the Di- 6-foot-7 rookie might have
vision Series and dethrone saved New York’s sea-
the AL champions. son in Game 3, when he
The bend-but-don’t-break reached above the right-
Yankees, way ahead of New York Yankees celebrate after the Yankees defeated the Cleveland Indians 5-2 in Game 5 of field wall to rob Francisco
schedule, staved off elimi- s baseball American League Division Series, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017, in Cleveland, to advance Lindor of a two-run homer
nation for the fourth time to the ALCS. in a 1-0 win. “I didn’t do my
in this postseason and Associated Press job at the top of the order,
advanced to play the won 102 games during the Gardner battled Cody Al- of-five playoff series. New but my teammates came
Houston Astros in the AL regular season, ripped off len for 12 pitches before York also did it in 2001, ral- up big for me,” Judge said.
Championship Series start- a historic 22-game winning hitting an RBI single, with lying to beat Oakland — KLUBER KLOBBERED
ing Friday night at Minute streak and were favored New York’s fifth run scoring a series remembered for Kluber was one of base-
Maid Park. to get back to the World when Todd Frazier raced Jeter’s backhand flip to ball’s most consistent
With a blend of young stars Series after losing in seven home on right fielder Jay home plate. pitchers all season, winning
and older veterans coming games a year ago to the Bruce’s throwing error. Gregorius, who took over 18 games and leading the
up big, the Yankees rocked Chicago Cubs. Gardner’s gritty at-bat was at shortstop following AL with a 2.25 ERA.
Cleveland and bailed out Cleveland’s Series drought symbolic of these Yankees. Jeter’s retirement after However, October was
manager Joe Girardi, who turns 70 next year — base- They wouldn’t give in. the 2014 season, hit a solo cruel to the right-hander.
failed to challenge a key ball’s longest dry spell. “We can win a lot of differ- homer in the first off Kluber He allowed nine runs, in-
call in a Game 2 loss that “Nobody wanted the sea- ent ways,” Gardner said. and added a two-run shot cluding four homers, over 6
threatened to sabotage son to be over,” Indians When Austin Jackson was in the third off Cleveland’s 1/3 innings in two postsea-
New York’s season. manager Terry Franco- called out on strikes to end ace, who didn’t look like son starts, hardly what he
“These guys had my back na said. “It doesn’t wind it, the Yankees rushed to himself during either start in or the Indians expected.
and they fought and down, it comes to a crash- the mound to celebrate this series. Kluber overcame a back
fought,” Girardi said. “They ing halt. It’s disappointing. with a wide-eyed Chap- One win shy of a Series title issue earlier this season and
beat a really good team. We felt good about our- man. An elated Girardi last year, the Indians had it flared up this fall.
What those guys did for selves. We made it harder hugged his coaches. only one goal in mind in “He’s fighting a lot,” Fran-
me, I’ll never forget it. “ to win, especially in the On Friday, Girardi was 2017. cona said. “I think you also
The Yankees went 2-5 last two games.”The In- crestfallen, afraid he had They came up short again, have to respect the fact
against the AL West cham- dians closed to 3-2 in the wrecked the season. and have now lost six con- that guy wants to go out
pion Astros, led by 5-foot-6 fifth against starter CC Sa- “After Game 2, Joe came secutive games with a there and he’s our horse.
dynamo and MVP candi- bathia before David Rob- up to me in this same spot chance to clinch a post- And sometimes it doesn’t
date Jose Altuve. But none ertson pitched 2 2/3 hitless (outside the manager’s of- season series. The skid work.”
of that matters now to this innings for the win. Yankees fice) and said, ‘Hey, man. dates to last year’s World SLUMPS
group of New Yorkers. closer Aroldis Chapman, I’m sorry,’” Yankees gen- Series, when they squan- The Indians batted .171 as
After winning twice at who faced Cleveland in eral manager Brian Cash- dered a 3-1 lead to the a team with All-Stars Fran-
home, and after Girardi last year’s spine-tingling man said. “I told him, ‘We Cubs. cisco Lindor (2 for 18) and
said he “screwed up” and World Series and signed an just have to keep battling. Cleveland is the first team Jose Ramirez (2 for 20) un-
felt horrible about it, the $86 million free agent con- Nothing is over yet.’ No in history to blow a two- able to snap out of funks.
Yankees — with little offen- tract in December, worked one on the plane home game series lead in con- SWEET SWING
sive help from rookie star two innings for the save. thought it was over at all.” secutive postseasons. Gregorius set a franchise
Aaron Judge — came into Chapman went to the The Yankees became the Everything was set up for record for home runs in a
Progressive Field and fin- mound with a three-run 10th team to overcome a the Indians: Kluber on the season by a shortstop with
ished off the Indians, who lead in the ninth after Brett 2-0 deficit to win a best- mound, Game 5 at home, 25, one more than Jeter
sensational setup man An- hit in 1999 when No. 2 led
drew Miller rested. the Yankees to a second
The Yankees, though, straight World Series title.
wouldn’t be denied. They Gregorius got New York off
battled back from a 3-0 to an ideal start, homer-
deficit in the first inning ing with two outs in the first
of their wild-card game when Kluber grooved a
against Minnesota and fastball. The shot deep into
then had to overcome a the seats in right raised the
crushing loss in Game 2, anxiety level to an already
when Girardi’s decisions jittery Cleveland crowd
budgetaruba@setarnet.aw led to him being booed at fearing the worst.q