The highly anticipated American League Wild Card Game took place on October 3rd, 2017. It was all or nothing, the loser of the one-game playoff went home a loser, the winner moved on to the ALDS against the Indians. Before the Postseason, my co-writer Daryll and I each wrote an article on who we believed would win this Postseason, (you can check his our right here, and mine out right here) so not only were the entire Yankee’s and Twin’s seasons on the line, but also the race for the most correct picks in the Doubleday Double Talk Postseason predictions race.
Luis Severino got the ball to kick off this game, but the baseball gods were not smiling down upon him tonight as he gave up a leadoff home run to Brian Dozier who made his postseason debut on Tuesday. After Dozier’s home run he got Joe Mauer to pop out to Todd Frazier, after he had recorded his first out of the game, Severino walked Jorge Polanco and gave up a two-run shot to Eddie Rosario to put the Yankees in a 3-0 hole in the first. Severino then puts two more runners on with one out before he was pulled and replaced by Chad Green who got the Bombers out of the jam. Severino pitched 1/3 of an inning, the shortest postseason start by a Yankee in history.
Ervin Santana of the Twins did not do much better. Santana started off the game with a walk to Brett Gardner and gave up a single to Aaron Judge to put runners on first and third. Sir Didi Gregorius came up to the plate and launched a three-run bomb to tie the game up.
In the bottom of the second with the game still tied, after a little bit of chin music from Santana, Brett Gardner launched a solo shot into the second decks to untie the game. The Twins ended up getting the run back as Byron Buxton (who left the game due to an injury) hit an RBI groundout to tie the game at four apiece. This would be it for the Twins scoring wise.
In the bottom of the third, Greg Bird hit an RBI single to make the game 4-5 in the Yankees favor.
Aaron Judge finally provided the Yankees with some breathing room in the bottom of the fourth when he launched a 2-run home run to give the Bronx Bombers a three-run lead. The Yankees would score their eighth and final run on an Aaron Hicks walk with the bases loaded.
The true heroes of this game for the Yankees was their bullpen, after Chad Green bailed the Yankees out of the jam that Severino put them in, he got four more outs in the game while only giving up 1 run. David Robertson came in to replace him and pitched 3 1/3 innings, he was then replaced by Tommy Kahnle who retired all seven batters he faced. Aroldis Chapman came in the top of the ninth and finished things off to make the win official. The Yankees bullpen ended up going 8 2/3 innings allowing just one run.
Aaron Judge, Brian Dozier, and Eddie Rosario all homered in their playoff debut.
The Yankees won this thriller and will advance to the ALDS against the Indians on Thursday. What a great way to kick off the playoffs!
Postseason Predictions Standings
The National League Wild Card Game against the Rockies will commence on October 4th, 2017, at 5 o’clock PST, and will be televised on TBS. Both Daryll and I are predicting a Diamondbacks win, tune in to see if we are right.
Doubleday Double Talk 
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