Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

A19
SPORTS Wednesday 18 OctOber 2017
Judge, Sabathia help Yankees

beat Astros 8-1, trail ALCS 2-1

By RONALD BLUM a game-ending double in left and Frazier’s homer.
AP Baseball Writer play with the bases loaded. “’’If you were to show me
NEW YORK (AP) — Back in Sonny Gray starts Game 4 a video of the swing, show
the Bronx, the big guys de- for New York in the best- the pitch speed and the lo-
livered. of-seven series on 11 days’ cation, I would have never
Greeted by an array of “All rest Wednesday against thought that,” Morton said.
Rise” signs in a ballpark that Lance McCullers Jr. “That was unbelievable.”
fits their style, Aaron Judge Frazier got the Yankees A New Jersey native who
hit a three-run homer and rolling, taking an awkward grew up a Yankees fan,
made a pair of sparkling hack at a low, outside Frazier entered 7 for 18
catches, leading CC Sa- fastball and slicing an op- against Morton with two
bathia and the New York posite-field drive over the home runs. With Frank Sina-
Yankees over the Houston right-field scoreboard. tra’s version of “Fly Me to
Astros 8-1 Monday night “You don’t think it’s going, the Moon” as his walk-up
and cutting their deficit to just because how unortho- music, Frazier hit not-quite
2-1 in the AL Championship dox the swing was,” Frazier a moonshot, driving a pitch
Series. said. just 18½ inches above the
Todd Frazier hit a go- Judge used his height and dirt 365 feet with pretty
ahead, three-run homer long left arm to make a much just his left arm. That
into the short porch in right leaping catch with his left gave the Yankees their first
field in the second inning shoulder slamming into the lead of the series. New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) leaps to snag
against Charlie Morton. right-field wall against Gur- Frazier motioned to his fam- a fly ball by Houston Astros designated hitter Yuli Gurriel during
The 6-foot-7 Judge en- riel starting the fourth. ily in the stands and looked the fourth inning of Game 3 of baseball’s American League
tered in a 4-for-31 (.129) Being a rookie, he politely at his left wrist.q Championship Series in New York on Monday, Oct. 16, 2017.
postseason slump that in- waited outside the dugout Associated Press
cluded one home run, for all the veterans to de-
four RBIs and 19 strikeouts. scend the steps after the
The slugger capped a five- third out — as he always
run fourth with a laser of a does — then capped a
drive to left field off Will Har- five-run bottom half with a
ris and robbed Yuli Gurriel laser of a line drive that just
and Cameron Maybin of cleared the left-field wall.
extra-base hits. Then in the fifth, he sprinted
“You see a guy put his into short right for a diving
head basically through the backhand catch on May-
wall and then dive,” Frazier bin.
said. “The ground is going On the first chilly night of
to shake when he hits the the autumn with a game-
ground.” time temperature of 57, Sa-
Sabathia, almost as big at bathia relied on the sharp,
6-foot-6, allowed three hits slow slider that has helped
over six scoreless innings revive the former flame-
for his first postseason win thrower’s career.
in five years. The Yankees Pitching with caution to
stopped a seven-game Houston’s dangerous line-
ALCS losing streak dat- up, he walked four, struck
ing to Sabathia’s victory out five and pitched shut-
over Texas in 2010 — when out ball for the first time in
Judge had just started his 21 career postseason starts.
freshman year at Fresno During the regular season,
State. he was 9-0 in 10 starts fol-
After a pair of 2-1 losses in lowing Yankees’ losses.
Houston, the Yankees led “It’s weird, me being 37,
8-0 after four innings. smoke and mirrors, getting
“Just the energy, the fans,” a shutout,” Sabathia said.
Sabathia said. “We can Adam Warren followed
kind of feed off their en- with two hitless innings, Del-
ergy.” lin Betances walked his only
New York improved to 4-0 two batters and Tommy
at home this postseason. Kahnle finished. Houston
The Yankees were an AL- had four hits, leaving it with
best 51-30 at home this just 15 over the first three
season. games, and is batting .169
“We’re somewhat built for in the matchup.
this ballpark,” manager Morton was chased after
Joe Girardi said. 3 2/3 innings and allowed
Houston scored on a bas- seven runs and six hits:
es-loaded walk in the ninth three infield singles, a bloop
before postseason star single to center, a double
Jose Altuve grounded into that Maybin allowed to fall