Oct 09

ALDS Game Four, 2018

The Red Sox, befitting their record as best team in the American League, have a two games to one lead over the Yankees. They look to win the series today and get ready for the Astros.

Red Sox at Yankees, 5:07 PM PDT, TV: TBS

The Red Sox send RHP Rick Porcello (17-7, 4.28 ERA) to the Yankee Stadium mound to face the Yankees’ ageless lefty C.C. Sabathia (9-7, 3.65 ERA). Porcello got the first two outs of the eighth inning in Game One, after the Yankees had trimmed a 5-0 Bosox lead to 5-3 in the sixth and seventh. He’s gone 0-3 with a 5.47 ERA in five postseason trips before 2018. This will be Sabathia’s 23rd postseason start; he has a 10-6 record with a 4.20 ERA in his previous 22 playoff appearances with Cleveland, Milwaukee and the Yankees going back to 2001.

The Red Sox have little history on October 9: On this date in 1915 they won Game Two of the Fall Classic in a game more notable for being the first World Series game ever attended by a US President.

The Yankees have often played on October 9, but perhaps the most memorable game was played in 1996. With the Yankees trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Derek Jeter ties the game with a deep fly ball to right field that is ruled a home run by umpire Rich Garcia, despite the protest of outfielder Tony Tarasco and Orioles manager Davey Johnson, who claim there was spectator interference that prevented the ball from being caught. Video replay clearly shows 12 year-old Jeffrey Maier reaching over the fence and bringing the catchable live ball into the stands, forever changing the outcome of Game 1 of the ALCS, and, many believe, of the series.

Lineups when available.

Oct 09

NLDS Post-mortem stories

From The Athletic:

Machado and the Dodgers’ attempts to keep him from pressing.

Freese, seemingly impervious to big-moment pressure.

Madson and the late-season adjustment.

From the LA Times:

Plaschke on Game Four.

Dylan Hernandez on Freese.

Andy McCullough on Machado and more.

Jorge Castillo and Andy McCullough on NLCS Game One starter Kershaw.

Houston Mitchell on the Dodgers’ previous results against the Brewers.