Just like that, it was over. All of the injuries we’ve had to overcome to get here, the umpire-war, the “Savages in the box” , the “Next man up” mentality, all for naught. Jose Altuvie hit a walk off 2run HR just minutes after the Yankees had overcome what felt like the ultimate adversity in this game to tie it in the top of the 9th. The 6-4 loss to the Astros in game 6 ends what was an incredible Yankee season. As for the Astros, this legendary season continues as they march towards the World Series to face the Washington Nationals.
This game started out in favor of the Astros as a 3run HR by Yuli Gurriel off Chad Green in the 1st gave the Astros an early 3-0 lead and sent the home crowd into a frenzy.
But the Yankees would rally, as an RBI single by Gary Sanchez in the 3rd, got the Yankees on the board and when Gio Urshela socked a solo shot in the 4th (After the Yankees stranded the bases loaded the inning prior when Didi Gregorious grounded out against Ryan Presley), the Yankees had life as they now trailed 3-2. In the 6th, the Yankees kept battling , as they had men on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs, and didn’t score when Brett Gardner hit a line drive that was caught on a forward dive by Josh Reddick in Right Field to end the threat.
What happened next, seemingly deflated the Yankees and to be honest i was physically and mostly mentally spent after this. Houston scored a run on a Alex Bregman force out to extend there lead to 4-2 after 6, the Yankees had Aaron Judge in 1st in the 7th with one out for Aaron Hicks, who lofted a fly ball to left field that was caught on a diving catch by Michael Brantley, who got the throw off to 1st base to double up Judge to end the inning and send the Astros crowd into delirium as they now could taste there 2nd World Series berth in 3 years.
However, If there is one think about the “Next Man up” motto that the Yankees took to heart this year, it’s that a game is never over as long as there is a Next Man up that can make a difference, which is exactly what DJ LeMahieu did in the 9th inning.
Facing a lights-out closer in Roberto Osuna, after a Gio leadoff single and a Brett Gardner strikeout, DJ put everything into his last at bat of the season , staying alive and fouling off pitch after pitch until the 9th pitch of the at bat, when he lifted a fly ball to right field just over the reach of George Springer and into the seats for an improbable game -tying blast that left the Houston crowd deflated and stunned, as the Yankees had once again come back from the dead to reignite hope in this 2019 World Series dream.
But in the end, it wasn’t meant to be, as with 2 outs and a man on in the bottom of the 9th, Aroldis Chapman hung a slider on a 2-1 count to José Altuvie and he did not miss it, sending it deep into the night for a walk-off 2run HR that sent the Astros to the World Series with a thrilling 6-4 win capping off an amazing 6 game battle between two Titans.
MVP: Jose Altuvie
LVP: Aroldis Chapman ( Not mad at him, just unfortunate at the end of the day)
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