MLB Roundup 10/6: Yankees and Astros each take 2-0 series leads

Yankees roll; continue domination of Twins

This year was supposed to be different. The Twins over the last couple decades have been dominated by the Yankees like few sports teams have been dominate by league-mates that I can remember. This was supposed to be different, though. This Twins roster was different and, more importantly, just plain better. This team set the all-time record for homers in a season and won 100 games. This was the time to get revenge. Well, after New York took Game One somewhat convincingly, they rolled in Game Two. The score was only 1-0 Yankees heading into the third, but then the wheels fell off. In a seven-run rally that was highlighted by a grand slam off the bat of Didi Gregorius, the Yankees would go up 8-0 and that was pretty much that. Minnesota did get a couple of meaningless runs late, but it was ultimately a six-run victory. New York is now a game away from heading to the ALCS, which they can do with a win in Minnesota on Monday.

Sox Spin: Thanks, I hate it.

The Rays dug Cole together

They dug him in that you have to respect what that man did on Saturday night. After the Rays were “Verlander’d” according to their manager on Friday, they got Cole’d and then some on Saturday. Tampa Bay knew it was going to have their hands full in this game as they tried to tie the series up, but this was another level for the possible 2019 Cy Young winner. Cole put up one of the best postseason performances in recent memory, going 7 ²⁄₃ innings without allowing a run on just four hits, one walks and fifteen strikeouts. There’s not too much you can do about that. On the other side, the Rays had 2018 Cy Young winner Blake Snell, but he wouldn’t make it out of the fourth, though only one run was allowed. It was 1-0 Astros into the seventh, but Houston scored one in each of the next two innings. The Rays threatened in the ninth, getting one run across and loading the bases up with just one out in a two-run game, but Will Harris came on and got out of trouble to put Houston up 2-0 in the series. Like New York, the Astros can clinch a berth in the ALCS with a win on Monday.

Sox Spin: We almost got the best-case scenario here with Roberto Osuna blowing the save and then the Astros coming back to win, but it wasn’t to be. A Yankees-Astros ALCS, if it is indeed in the cards, will be a blast to watch from a baseball perspective but also I’m not ready for that.