Analyzing the New York Yankees’ 5-1 win over the Minnesota Twins in ALDS Game 3 to send the Bombers to the ALCS with a clean sweep.
The New York Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins, 5-1, on Monday night at Target Field to complete the ALDS sweep and advance to the ALCS.
The game was over when…
…The Yankees added insurance to their lead in the top of the ninth to extend their lead to 5-1.
Game Balls
- Gleyber Torres: The 22-year-old second baseman had an absolute day. He finished 3-4 with a home run and two doubles.
- Luis Severino: His command was shaky at times, but it was a positive outing for Severino. He finished tossing 4.0 IP allowing four hits, no runs, two walks with four strikeouts.
- Didi Gregorius: The Knighted One had two RBI singles and made a gorgeous run-saving diving catch in the ninth inning.
Key Stats
- 1/10: The Yankees pitching staff held the Twins’ top three hitters to just one hit in 10 at-bats.
- 6-9: The Yankees’ 6-9 hitters combined for seven hits in 15 at-bats, three doubles, a home run and three RBIs.
Quick Hits
- Severino’s fastball command was spotty, but he battled into competitive counts all night. Conversely, his slider and changeup command was strong.
- Severino threw 84 pitches in 4.0 innings of work. 53 were strikes.
- Against the fastball-crushing Twins and with his command shaky, Severino wasn’t afraid to use his slider in any count.
- Of his 84 pitches, Severino threw 27 sliders—good for 32%.
- LF Brett Gardner punched an RBI single to left field in the third inning with two outs and two strikes.
- SS Didi Gregorius smoked an RBI single in the seventh inning and the ninth inning. He now has 30 RBIs in his last 13 games against the Twins.
- OF Cameron Maybin came in for defensive purposes but wound up hitting a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning.
- RP Zack Britton left the game in the eighth inning due to an ankle injury after he gave up a leadoff home run to Twins OF Eddie Rosario.
- RP Aroldis Chapman came in to record the final five outs. It was the first time he was asked to record more than three outs since June 25, 2018, per Gary Phillips of Yankees Magazine.
- The Yankees are now 93-2 when leading after the seventh inning.
- The Yankees have now won 13 consecutive postseason games against the Twins.
Play of the Game: In the fifth inning with two outs and two on, Torres fielded a grounder to his left in shallow right field—slid, spun and threw to end the inning and save a run (watch here).
Up Next: The Yankees will set their sights on the ALCS where they will play the winner of the ALDS series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros. The ALCS is scheduled to start on Saturday, Oct. 12.