LeMahieu's Big Night Powers Yanks to Game 1 Win

YANKEES 10 - TWINS 4 
NYY lead series 1-0 

One could make the argument that utility man DJ LeMahieu has been the Yankees Most Valuable Player. Not only has he found himself playing multiple infield positions, in addition to his natural second base, he has led the Yankees in average (.327), hits (197), runs scored (109), and RBI (102). He has done it all and then some.

With the Yankees opening what they hope will be a long postseason run to the 2019 World Series, LeMahieu once again stood out, proving to be the difference in New York's 10-4 victory in Game One of the Division Series against Minnesota.

leMahieu went 3-for-5 with four RBI in Game One, providing a solo blast in the bottom of the sixth that helped New York built a 6-4 lead, and later delivered a bases clearing RBI double to blow the game wide open at 10-4.

However it was his lead-off single in the bottom of the third inning that really got things going for the Yankees. See, the Yankees were down 2-0 at this point after James Paxton surrendered a pair of solo shots to Jorge Polanco and Nelson Cruz as the Twins took the early lead.

An at bat and hit that was easy to forget about by games end after all the homers, LeMahieu's hit was the catalyst for New York. Aaron Judge followed LeMahieu with a single of his own. Edwin Encarnacion followed by ripping a double to left, scoring LeMahieu with the Yankees first run of the day, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Finally an error by Twins first baseman Cron on a ground ball by Gleyber Torres plated the tying and go-ahead run to flip the score 3-2 in favor of the Yankees.

Still, the Twins wouldn't relent. A RBI single by Polonco in the top of the fifth chased Paxton from the game after 4-2/3 innings of work, tying the game at three a piece.

That slight burst of momentum would be the last for the Twins on this night.

In the bottom of the fifth  Judge was walked and Brett Gardner hit by a pitch to open the inning, forcing Twins manager Rocco Baldelli to bring in reliever Tyler Duffey to face Giancarlo Stanton. That plan backfired for Minnesota as Stanton worked out a walk, setting up the table for Gleyber Torres with the bases loaded.

Torres worked the count to 3-2 before lining a shot down the third base line that bounced off the glove of third baseman Miguel Sano, allowing two runs to come in, delivering the first lead of the night for the Bombers.

The two-run single by Torres cracked the damn. LeMahieu broke it open.  LeMahieu's solo shot in the sixth was quickly followed by a blast by Brett Gardner to give the Yanks a seemingly insurmountable 7-4 lead.

The Twins had absolutely no answer for the Yankees bullpen as Zach Britton, JA Happ and Aroldis Chapman combined to hold Minnesota scoreless over the final three innings of the game.

The bullpen's efforts Friday night gave the Yankees the opportunity to blow the game wide open, and New York took full advantage.

Going back to James Paxton, it was an uneven night for him. He did allow three runs over 4.2 innings of work, but struck out eight batters on the night. He got the no decision.

The Twins' Jose Berrios struggled with his command, tossing 88 pitches in four innings, while getting tagged for three runs (two unearned).

The Yankees will send Masahiro Tanaka to the hill Saturday afternoon against Jake Odorizzi. Tanaka is coming off a rough September where his ERA was 4.32. He will look to get back on track against a dangers, but free swinging Twins team.