The New York Yankees officially clinched a playoff berth last night in Seattle with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners in 10 innings. First Baseman Anthony Rizzo and Center Fielder Jason Dominguez provided the offense while Starting Pitcher Nestor Cortes and the bullpen muted the Mariners’ bats for most of the evening. Rizzo drove in Dominguez in the second inning and again in the tenth to account for all the Yankees’ runs. It was quite a contrast to the previous game’s 11-run outburst.
Yankees’ Playoff Spot is Assured
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After missing the playoffs last season, the Yankees became the first team in the American League to punch their ticket to the postseason. The victory over the fading Mariners elevated New York’s record on the season to 89-63. Significantly, that mark is now the best record in the AL and, if the margin is maintained over the last ten games, would assure a coveted bye and home game advantage throughout the playoffs. The Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central are, essentially, the only threat to that outcome with a record of 88-65.
Having played one fewer game than the Guardians, the Yankees are currently 1.5 games ahead of them for the number one seed. Most importantly, the Yanks are two games up in the loss column. If the team were to clinch the number one spot, their opponent would be the winner of a wild card showdown between the Baltimore Orioles and the Kansas City Royals. The Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers are lurking at the doorstep of the playoffs, with a handful of other teams not mathematically eliminated.
The Yankees Can Win Multiple Ways
After bludgeoning the Mariners on Tuesday with the 1-2 punch of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, the Yankees demonstrated Wednesday that they can win with pitching and “small ball.” Nestor Cortes threw his standard six innings, allowed zero runs, struck out six, and walked three, The bullpen combination of Tommy Kanle, Clay Holmes, Luke Weaver, and Ian Hamilton accounted for four innings, one earned run, eight strikeouts, and also three walks. Weaver was credited with the win and Hamilton got the save.
The offense managed only three hits on the night, but Rizzo delivered in a big way by driving in the only two runs of the night. Dominguez, who scored both runs, got on base both times by drawing walks. Soto accounted for the only other hit. In one game the offense dominated. In the next pitching and scrappiness won out. In the postseason, the latter is the most likely formula for success.
Yankees Wrap Up Mariners’ Series With Day Game
Thursday at 4:10 p.m. EST, the Yankees send Clarke Schmidt to the mound to face off against Logan Gilbert of the Mariners. Schmidt is 5-3 with a 2.41 ERA, while Gilbert is 7-11 with a 3.24 ERA. On paper, runs could be hard to come by. But that was the case in game one when the Yankees scored 11 and it was the case again in game two when they scored just two. The Yankees have shown they can win either way.
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