Cleveland got its MLB The Show 17 postseason run off to a good start by taking Game 1 of the ALDS at home from the New York Yankees.
After winning the American League Wild Card game in a lopsided affair, things didn’t go as well for the New York Yankees in the opening game of their MLB The Show 17 ALDS against Cleveland.
Cleveland was able to climb out of an early hole and walk off on a single by right fielder Jay Bruce in 10 innings by a score of 4-3.
The game didn’t begin as spectacularly for Cleveland, however. After starting pitcher Trevor Bauer worked around a double by New York right fielder Aaron Judge double in the top of the first, Cleveland catcher Yan Gomes singled to lead off the inning. With two outs, Cleveland shortstop Francisco Lindor hit a single to plate Gomes and give Bauer a 1-0 lead for the top of the second.
Unfortunately for Cleveland, Bauer was unable to protect that lead. After Yankees designated hitter Chase Headley got a one-out double, New York center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury singled to center to score Headley and tie the game. The Yankees then took the lead on a first baseman Greg Bird double which plated Ellsbury. New York went up 3-1 on a Brett Gardner single which scored Bird, and then Bauer was finally able to retire the side.
In the bottom of the second, Cleveland was able to chip away at the Yankees lead off New York starter Sonny Gray. After Lindor and center fielder Jason Kipnis both drew walks to start the inning, a single to center by second baseman José Ramírez scored Lindor to make the score 3-2. Gray was able to stop the bleeding there, however.
After Bauer kept the Yankee bats quiet in the top of the third, Kipnis tied the game on a long ball.
Gray’s day ended after he retired the side in the third, but Bauer continued keeping New York’s hitters at bay through the sixth inning. The New York bullpen, led by Dellin Betances, was able to match Bauer and the Cleveland pen through the rest of regulation, and the end of nine saw the two teams still knotted up at three.
Bird got his second hit of the game to lead off the Yankee 10th, smacking a single to left. Gardner sacrificed to advance pinch runner Tyler Austin into scoring position. After Judge lined out to Ramírez, Austin took third on a wild pitch by Cleveland reliever Tyler Olson. Olson then walked New York catcher Gary Sánchez, but got Yankee shortstop Didi Gregorius to fly out to Kipnis to end the scoring threat.
That was the big momentum boost that Cleveland needed. Kipnis singled to lead off the home 10th, then pinch-hitter Erik González drew a one-out walk to put Kipnis in scoring position. That was when Bruce ended the game on his single to center.
Olson got the win, while New York reliever Chad Green took the loss. Kipnis led Cleveland at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a run batted in, a run scored and a walk. Headley paced the Yankees, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk.
Cleveland now leads the best-of-five ALDS 1-0, and is just two wins away from the MLB The Show 17 ALCS against the winner of the Boston Red Sox-Houston Astros series.