Sabathia's $10M deal finalized by Yanks; payroll up to $178M

NEW YORK (AP) -- CC Sabathia's $10 million, one-year contract has been finalized by the Yankees, a deal that raises New York's projected luxury tax payroll for next year to about $178 million.

The deal was announced Tuesday, about 10 days after the sides reached an agreement pending a physical. The 37-year-old left-hander is taking a pay cut from the $25 million he earned this year, when he went 14-5 with a 3.69 ERA in 27 starts for his best season since 2012. He was 9-0 with a 1.71 ERA in 10 starts following a Yankees loss.

Sabathia needs periodic injections in his surgically repaired right knee. The six-time All-Star is part of a rotation that includes Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, Sonny Gray and Jordan Montgomery.

Sabathia is 237-146 with a 3.70 ERA and 2,846 strikeouts in 17 big league seasons with Cleveland (2001-08), Milwaukee (2008) and the Yankees, who first signed him to a $161 million, seven-year deal before the 2009 season. When Sabathia had the right to opt out after the 2011 season, the Yankees agreed to a deal that paid him $25 million in 2016 and included a $25 million option for 2017 that became guaranteed because he did not finish 2016 with a left shoulder injury.

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner repeatedly has said New York intends to get under next year's tax threshold of $197 million, which would reset the team's base tax rate from 50 percent to 20 percent in 2019, the first season after Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are free agents. New York has paid tax annually in each year since the penalties began in 2003.

New York has seven signed players for next season whose salaries total $120.7 million for purposes of the luxury tax: Giancarlo Stanton ($25 million), Tanaka ($22,142,857), Jacoby Ellsbury ($21,857,143), Aroldis Chapman ($17.2 million), Brett Gardner ($13 million), David Robertson ($11.5 million) and Sabathia.

The Yankees have eight players eligible for arbitration whose projected salaries total $30 million: Dellin Betances, Gray, Didi Gregorius, Aaron Hicks, Tommy Kahnle, Austin Romine, Chasen Shreve and Adam Warren. The rest of the 40-man roster, which includes Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird, Severino and Montgomery, figures to add approximately $10 million. Each team will be charged a projected $14,044,600 for benefits and extended benefits.

In addition, the Yankees are charged with $3 million for cash transactions. They are credited with $3 million from Miami in the Stanton trade and are debited $5.5 million in the Brian McCann trade to Houston in November 2016 and $500,000 in the Chase Headley trade this month to San Diego.

New York likely would want to start the season $5 million to $10 million below the threshold, allowing the Yankees to add salaries with in-season moves.

Yankees, LHP Sabathia agree to one-year, $10 million deal

The New York Yankees and CC Sabathia agreed on a one-year deal worth a reported $10 million, according to multiple reports Saturday.

The 37-year-old left-handed free agent is coming off a roller-coaster season in which he suffered what might have been a career-ending knee injury in August. But Sabathia bounced back to anchor a rotation that carried the Yankees to the seventh game of the American League Championship Series.

New York lost that game to the eventual world champion Houston Astros, but Sabathia proved his worth. He also had been courted by the Los Angeles Angels and Toronto Blue Jays.

Sabathia finished last season with a 14-5 record and a 3.69 ERA in 27 starts. He must pass a physical for the deal to become official.

The Yankees' starting rotation includes Sabathia, Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, Sonny Gray and Jordan Montgomery.

The Yankees are reportedly trying to acquire another starter and have targeted Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole.

Padres acquire 3B Headley from Yankees

Chase Headley is headed back to San Diego.

The New York Yankees traded the third baseman along with right-hander Bryan Mitchell and cash considerations to the San Diego Padres for outfielder Jabari Blash, the Yankees announced.

The Yankees are in the midst of revamping their infield after dealing second baseman Starlin Castro to the Miami Marlins in the Giancarlo Stanton trade on Monday.

Headley, who began his career with San Diego in 2007, was traded from the Padres to the Yankees prior to the 2014 trade deadline. The 33-year-old switch hitter batted .273 with 12 home runs and 61 RBIs in 147 games last season.

Headley established career highs of 31 homers and 115 RBIs for the Padres in 2012 when he finished fifth in National League MVP balloting.

Headley is entering the final season of a four-year, $52 million contract.

Mitchell, 26, posted a 1-1 mark with one save, a 5.79 ERA in 32 2/3 innings in 2017.

Blash, 28, batted .213 with five home runs and 16 RBIs in 61 games last season.

Boone reportedly tabbed new Yankees manager

The New York Yankees have chosen Aaron Boone to replace Joe Girardi as their manager, according to multiple reports Friday.

Boone, who helped the Yankees to a 2003 World Series title with a walk-off home run in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox, interviewed recently with his former team.

The New York Daily News reported that the Yankees' brass likes Boone's "polish."

New York general manager Brian Cashman reportedly is intrigued by Boone despite no previous managerial or coaching experience. Boone has been serving as an analyst with ESPN.

Cashman recommended Boone to owner Hal Steinbrenner from a pool of six interviewees that included Carlos Beltran, Hensley Meulens, Rob Thomson, Chris Woodward and Eric Wedge. The search for Girardi's replacement took over a month.

Various media reports earlier Friday suggested that the decision came down to Boone and Meulens after Beltran and Thomson were both informed that they were not getting the job.

Meulens is currently working as the bench coach for the San Francisco Giants and was on the coaching staff for all three of the Giants' World Series championships in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

Meulens is a former top prospect in the Yankees organization who played parts of seven major league seasons from 1989 to 1998, including five with New York.

Notebook: Braves lose 13 players for illegal signings; Judge should be ready for camp after shoulder surgery

Major League Baseball came down hard on the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday for multiple violations of the international amateur signing rules, making 13 players who had previously signed with the organization free agents.

MLB will also dock the Braves a third-round pick in the 2018 amateur draft after the team offered extra benefits to 41st overall pick Drew Waters last year. Waters, however, will be able to remain with Atlanta.

The league determined that the Braves had packaged international signing bonuses during the two-year signing period from 2016-18, which is in violation of MLB rules.

MLB stated that Juan Contreras, Yefri del Rosario, Abrahan Gutierrez, Kevin Maitan, Juan Carlos Negret, Yenci Pena, Yunior Severino, Livan Soto, Guillermo Zuniga, Brandol Mezquita, Angel Rojas and Antonio Sucre were illegally signed during the two-year span.

The scandal cost former Braves general manager John Coppolella and team scout Gordon Blakeley their jobs and also led to the resignation of Atlanta president of baseball operations John Hart.

Judge has shoulder surgery; should be ready by camp

After insisting during a summer slump that he was not ailing, Yankees slugger Aaron Judge had arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder.

The operation was performed Monday by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. The Yankees said Tuesday the procedure involved a loose-body removal and cartilage cleanup and Judge should be recovered ahead of spring training.

The 25-year-old Judge hit .284 with 52 homers and 114 RBIs in 155 games this season, helping the Yankees advance to the AL Championship Series, where they lost to the eventual World Series champion Astros. He was a unanimous selection for AL Rookie of the Year and finished second to Houston infielder Jose Altuve in the AL MVP race.

Judge was hitting .329 with 30 homers and 66 RBIs at the All-Star break, then batted .179 with seven homers and 16 RBIs with 67 strikeouts in his next 44 games through the end of August.

He made several crashes into outfield walls and often was seen with packs of ice on his shoulder. While it looked as if an injury might be preventing him from swinging freely, but the right fielder and manager Joe Girardi repeatedly said his shoulder was fine.

He rebounded to bat .311 with 15 homers and 32 RBIs in the final month of the season.

Morgan says steroid users shouldn't be in HOF

Hall of Fame vice chairman Joe Morgan emailed every eligible voter from the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Tuesday, writing that "steroid users don't belong" in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Morgan's email, which he said he wrote on behalf of "many of the Hall of Famers," comes one day after the 2018 ballot was released.

"We hope the day never comes when known steroid users are voted into the Hall of Fame. They cheated. Steroid users don't belong here," wrote Morgan, a two-time National League Most Valuable Player who was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1990.

Former stars Roger Clemens (54.1 percent) and Barry Bonds (53.8 percent) received their highest vote totals last year, moving closer to the 75 percent required for enshrinement.

Joe Girardi not returning as Yankees manager in 2018

Joe Girardi will not be back next season as manager of the New York Yankees, sources told David Kaplan of ESPN 1000 in Chicago on Thursday.

Girardi just concluded a four-year, $16 million contract, and he and the team agreed to part ways, sources said. They will make an announcement later Thursday.

Girardi, 53, and the Yankees came within one game of going to the World Series this year, losing to the Houston Astros in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series. In 10 years at the helm, Girardi won one World Series and made the playoffs six times.

After the Yankees lost in the ALCS, Girardi professed his love for managing but said he would once again discuss his situation with his wife and three children, asking them what they thought was best for their family. He has expressed similar sentiments on previous occasions when his contract was up but has always returned to the team.

Girardi has had aspirations to work in baseball operations, possibly in the commissioner's office. He also could return to broadcasting. Girardi also has a passion for college football, and while he has said it is a long shot, he's spoken about serving as an athletic director.

After managing the Marlins for one year, Girardi took over the Yankees in 2008. He won a World Series in 2009 and finishes his Yankees tenure with an overall record of 910-710.

As a catcher, Girardi played for 15 years in the big leagues, winning three World Series titles in four years with the Yankees.

Astros punch out Yankees, punch ticket to World Series

HOUSTON -- Leave it to Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow, the architect of this incredible franchise resurgence, to add the necessary perspective to the proceedings, to rattle off the key contributors on Saturday night and outline the roles they played in the celebration taking place.

From Jose Altuve and Lance McCullers to Evan Gattis, the pieces were added one by one until the Houston Astros, once laughingstocks throughout the majors following their relocation from the National League, claimed their first American League pennant with a 4-0 win over the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park.

Houston advances to its first World Series since 2005 on the backs of Altuve, the homegrown MVP candidate whose opposite-field home run in the fifth inning keyed the decisive three-run frame, and McCullers, the first-round compensatory draft pick in 2012 who worked in tandem with Astros right-hander Charlie Morton (1-1) to deny the storied Yankees their 41st pennant.

Gattis, whose leadoff home run in the fourth provided Morton and McCullers all the run support they would need, was acquired via trade on Jan 14, 2015 in exchange for touted prospect Rio Ruiz, taken in the same draft as McCullers and Astros star shortstop Carlos Correa.

"That was the beginning of the transformation," Luhnow said of his first draft as GM. "To have those players that you bring into the organization help you get to this point where you win a pennant, it's validation and satisfaction for everybody involved: our scouts, coaches, front office, everybody."

The Astros will visit the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the World Series.

Playing in just their second Game 7 in franchise history while serving as hosts for the first time, the Astros became the eighth team in postseason history to win a seven-game series after losing three consecutive games during that series. The home team won all four games of the ALCS, with Houston limiting the power-laden Yankees to just three runs at Minute Maid Park.

Astros right-hander Justin Verlander was named series MVP. He went 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA, allowing just one run on 10 hits and two walks over 16 innings while recording 21 strikeouts.

Gattis crushed his first home run of the postseason off Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia (1-1). After Altuve socked his fifth postseason homer off Yankees right-hander Tommy Kahnle, the Astros responded with three hits over their ensuing four at-bats, with Brian McCann delivering a two-out, two-strike, two-run double that scored Correa and Yuli Gurriel and doubled the lead.

After Morton worked the first five innings, McCullers emerged from the bullpen for just the second time in his career, both coming this postseason, and allowed two baserunners over four strong innings. McCullers recorded six strikeouts in relief while producing his first career save.

"These guys came out throwing strikes, quality strikes," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "Power breaking balls work against these guys. They executed a great game plan. Brian McCann handled them terrifically ... and we look up and we got our 27 outs from two guys."

Said McCullers, who dealt with injuries throughout the second half: "I wanted to prove that I'm back and they can give me the ball whenever they want and I'm going to do a good job."

Morton needed only 28 pitches to complete his first three innings. With Houston leading 1-0, Morton finally hit a trouble spot when he surrendered a leadoff double to Greg Bird in the fifth.

After fanning Starlin Castro for the first out, Morton benefited from the defensive brilliance of third baseman Alex Bregman and McCann. Bregman fielded a Todd Frazier grounder and fired home to McCann, who applied a perfect tag on Bird as he attempted to score from third base.

"I thought I got a good jump, so I went," Bird said. "I wanted to score a run, so I went."

Morton responded by inducing a ground-ball out from Chase Headley and closed his outing by allowing two hits and one walk over five scoreless innings, adding five strikeouts to his ledger. After rolling in the Bronx, the Yankees found chances fleeting on the road to their demise.

"You've got to give them credit," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "They pitched their rear ends off and, the bottom line is they beat us."

NOTES: Astros RF Josh Reddick, who entered the series finale batting 0-for-21, hit ninth in the order for the first time this postseason and the fifth time overall. Reddick recorded an opposite-field single in his second at-bat, leaving him tied with Cardinals SS Dal Maxvill (1968 World Series) for the longest hitless streak in one postseason series. ... Yankees RHP Tommy Kahnle had retired 28 of 32 batters faced over six appearances and 10 scoreless innings this postseason before surrendering three runs in the fifth. ... With his solo home run in the fifth inning, Astros 2B Jose Altuve recorded his fifth homer of the postseason and moved into second place in club history. Then-Astros CF Carlos Beltran clubbed eight postseason homers for Houston in 2004.

LEADING OFF: Cubs face Dodgers’ Kershaw trailing 3-1 in NLCS

A look at what’s happening all around the majors today:

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ANOTHER DAY

The Cubs finally broke through for a win against the Dodgers in their NL Championship Series, but now they have to contend with ace Clayton Kershaw in Game 5. Kershaw limited Chicago to two runs over five innings in Game 1, a 5-2 win for Los Angeles. It’s a tough matchup for the Cubs, who are averaging 2.7 runs over nine postseason games — including a 9-8 win over Washington in NLDS Game 5.

Manager Joe Maddon will have work to do managing Chicago’s bullpen. Closer Wade Davis held on for a six-out save in Game 4, but that means the Cubs will have to look elsewhere for the late innings in Game 5. That’s problematic, since Chicago’s other relievers allowed eight runs over the first three games. Of course, Maddon will have to stay in the game long enough to make those calls — he was ejected Wednesday for the second time in the series.

TAKE A BREAK

Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and the slumping Astros get a day off, trailing the Yankees 3-2 in the AL Championship Series. Neither team is planning a workout at Minute Maid Park.

Houston led the majors in batting and scoring this season, but is hitting just .147 overall and has totaled only nine runs in the ALCS. George Springer and Josh Reddick, the 1-2 hitters in the Astros’ lineup, are a combined 2 for 35.

Veterans Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann both spoke to the Astros after a 5-0 loss Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. “Everything is OK. ... We have the home-field advantage,” Altuve said. “They did what they have to do, win their home games. Now it’s our turn.”

FOR HIRE

Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa has left the Diamondbacks’ organization, less than two weeks after Arizona lost the NL wild-card game to Colorado. He served as chief baseball officer in 2015-16 and became chief baseball analyst when the new regime of general manager Mike Hazen and manager Torey Lovullo arrived last spring.

The 73-year-old La Russa won three World Series championships as a manager — two with St. Louis, one with Oakland — worked as an Major League Baseball executive and played in the bigs as an infielder.

Yanks blank Astros, seize ALCS lead

NEW YORK -- Thirty-two minutes into Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, the New York Yankees scored their first run off Dallas Keuchel in a postseason setting.

About 25 minutes later, the New York scored another run off the ace left-hander, and 49,647 fans at Yankee Stadium along with the Yankees themselves, exhaled thinking, "Finally, we got a couple of runs off this guy."

More than two hours later, fans sang "New York, New York" at the top of their lungs walking out of Yankee Stadium toward the subways and to their cars as the Yankees prepared for a return trip to Houston with a chance to clinch the pennant.

Greg Bird drove in the first run against Keuchel, Aaron Judge drove in the second run against the Houston ace, and Masahiro Tanaka pitched seven outstanding innings as New York moved to the brink of clinching a trip to the World Series with a 5-0 victory on Wednesday.

The Yankees lead the best-of-seven ALCS 3-2. They are one win from their 41st pennant and their first since beating the Los Angeles Angels in 2009.

"Any time you're able to score off a starter early, especially someone who you haven't scored off of at all, I think it does feel better," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Yes, we can break through."

Justin Verlander awaits New York's lineup in Game 6, but thanks to Bird and Judge and others breaking through against Keuchel, the Yankees do not face elimination in their return to Houston.

On Monday, the Yankees took the field in their second straight 2-0 hole following a pair of 2-1 losses to start the series. Then they thumped the Astros 8-1 in Game, 3, produced a stirring rally in Game 4 and then finally generated their long-awaited offense off Keuchel.

Keuchel (1-1) held a 14-inning scoreless streak against the Yankees when Bird stepped in with Starlin Castro on second and two outs in the second. The left-hander pitched six innings in the 2015 AL wild-card game in New York and then shut out the Yankees in seven innings in Game 1 on Friday.

Bird lined a 2-0 pitch to right field as Castro, who had hit a long double to deep left, easily scored.

"Just getting a win and off a great starter like him is big," Bird said after the Yankees went 5-for-13 with two outs.

An inning later, Judge drove in his 10th run of the postseason with a ground-ball double down the left field line just out of third baseman Alex Bregman's reach. Brett Gardner, who was on first base, slid in head-first at the plate after third base coach Joe Espada frantically waved him once the ball reached the warning track.

"He's as tough as anybody on us," Yankees designated hitter Chase Headley, who had three hits, said of Keuchel. "And to really break through in the second inning to get a run, I thought that lifted everybody's spirits and gave us some confidence that we could get to him going forward.

New York's spirits continued getting a boost with two more runs in the fifth when Gary Sanchez singled in Headley with a hit down the left field line and Didi Gregorius placed a run-scoring single just under Jose Altuve's glove as the second baseman attempted to make a diving stop.

"That's the big thing, is getting the first run off of someone like that," Judge said. "You have to get him early when you can because if he gets in a groove, he's unhittable.

The capper was a 407-foot homer by Sanchez, a little over 24 hours after his two-run double in the eighth inning of Game 4.

"I think our offense collectively did a great job of scoring some runs, and it was really fun to watch that," Tanaka said through an interpreter.

New York's postseason breakthrough off Keuchel was more than enough for Tanaka, who allowed three hits, struck out eight, walked one and recorded nine outs on the ground.

Tanaka (1-1) escaped minor trouble in the second by stranding Yuli Gurriel and three innings later by getting strikeouts on George Springer and Carlos Correa.

Shortly after those strikeouts, Keuchel walked off the mound after allowing four runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.

"It was more about them hitting good pitches," Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. "He got under duress early, they got a two-out base hit to score a run. Once you get behind in the playoffs, you have to be pretty perfect -- at least it feels that way."

While Keuchel struggled, so did Houston's lineup, which is hitting .147 in the series. Altuve and Correa were a combined 2-for-22 in the three games at New York.

"It's rare because of how much offense we put up through the first six months of the season and even in the Division Series," Hinch said. "We've swung the bats very well, and to this day, I believe we're one good game (from) coming out of it."

NOTES: The Yankees produced their 31st shutout in a postseason game, the most among any team and six ahead of the San Francisco Giants. ... Houston was shut out in the postseason for the first time since Game 4 of the 2005 World Series against the Chicago White Sox. ... Former New York and Houston LHP Andy Pettitte threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

LEADING OFF: Dodgers seek sweep; Yanks try to solve Keuchel

Associated Press

A look at what’s happening all around the majors today:

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BRING OUT THE BROOMS

One win from their first World Series appearance in 29 years, the Los Angeles Dodgers go for a four-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Championship Series at Wrigley Field (9:08 p.m. EDT). Los Angeles is 6-0 in this postseason, setting a franchise record for consecutive playoff victories. Another one would give the storied franchise its 22nd pennant. The Dodgers’ only four-game postseason sweep came in the 1963 World Series against the New York Yankees.

HISTORY ON HIS SIDE

With the AL Championship Series tied at two games apiece, Dallas Keuchel pitches for the Houston Astros against Masahiro Tanaka and the New York Yankees (5:08 p.m. EDT). Keuchel is 6-2 with a 1.09 ERA in eight career starts vs. the Yankees, including a pair of scoreless playoff outings. The 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner tossed seven shutout innings and struck out 10 to beat Tanaka 2-1 in Game 1 at Houston. The left-hander has never given up a home run in 57 2/3 innings against the Yankees. “Hopefully, seeing him twice in one series, our guys are able to adjust a little quicker,” New York manager Joe Girardi said.

FRESH ARMS

It’s a matchup of well-rested pitchers when Dodgers left-hander Alex Wood and Cubs righty Jake Arrieta square off in Game 4 of the NLCS. Wood, who had a career-high 16 wins this season, will make his first appearance since Sept. 26. He was lined up for Game 4 of the Division Series, but the Dodgers swept the Diamondbacks in three straight.

“It has its pluses and negatives,” Wood said of the layoff. “I’ve stayed on a semi-regular schedule. I’ve had two (simulated) games in between against a lot of our regular guys in our lineup.”

Arrieta has pitched just 14 1/3 innings since Aug. 30, including four innings of two-hit ball against Washington in Game 4 of the NLDS. The 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner was hampered by a right hamstring injury at the end of the season.

“I think the leg issue is pretty much behind us,” he said.

Arrieta can become a free agent after the World Series, so this could be his final start for the Cubs.

HOME SWEET HOME

Aaron Judge and the wild-card Yankees are 5-0 at home this postseason heading into Game 5 of the ALCS against the Astros. The winner heads to Houston needing one win to reach the World Series, so Yankee Stadium figures to be rocking again. “Every home game has been special,” manager Joe Girardi said. “I just feel like the fans are back. And I see things that I haven’t in a while, and it reminds me a lot of when I was playing here.” New York has won 18 of its last 21 home games.

LAST CHANCE

Last season, the Cubs eliminated the Dodgers in the NLCS on the way to their first World Series title since 1908. But in the rematch this year, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and their teammates have been shut down at the plate by Los Angeles pitching. Trailing 3-0 in the best-of-seven series, Chicago needs a win to avoid being swept in the NLCS for the second time in three years. “We have three or four Game 7s in a row coming up right now,” manager Joe Maddon said.

CATCHING ON

Gary Sanchez is expected back behind the plate to catch Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka after backup Austin Romine caught Sonny Gray in Game 4 of the ALCS on Tuesday. Sanchez was the designated hitter and broke out of his slump with three RBIs, including a two-run double that snapped an eighth-inning tie. New York rallied from four runs down for a 6-4 victory over Houston that evened the best-of-seven series 2-all.

Here come Judge, Yankees: ALCS tied

NEW YORK -- As their slumps lingered, questions about Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez persisted.

Can they handle the pressure of postseason games? Will they get out of their skids before it is too late?

The New York Yankees found out in a resounding way Tuesday that the kids are all right.

Judge hit the game-tying double with one out in the eighth inning, and Sanchez followed with a two-run double as New York stormed back to even the American League Championship Series at two games apiece with a 6-4 victory over the Houston Astros.

Game 5 of the best-of-seven series is Wednesday, with Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka opposing Astros ace Dallas Keuchel. Game 6 is Friday in Houston, where the Astros opened the series with two 2-1 victories.

The Yankees get a return trip to Houston thanks to their two young stars, who have experienced productive moments during the team's first extended postseason run since 2012 but also struggled at times.

Judge started play Tuesday 5-for-34 (.147) with 21 strikeouts in his first postseason. After striking out and getting a walk in his first two plate appearances, Judge sparked New York's biggest postseason comeback at home since a rally from a four-run deficit in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox, when Aaron Boone homered off Tim Wakefield in the 11th inning for the win.

"It's stressful, but these guys seem to have it under control," Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia said.

Judge made a comeback seem possible by driving the first pitch of the seventh inning from Lance McCullers over the center field fence for his third homer of the postseason. The blast cut Houston's lead to 4-1.

"I thought Aaron's home run lit a spark," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We've seen that before."

Then the 25-year-old made a comeback seem even more realistic with a booming double off the left field fence against Ken Giles (0-1) to forge a 4-4 deadlock.

Sanchez, who lifted a sacrifice fly in the seventh, came into his at-bat 6-for-40 (.150) in the postseason, hitless in 13 at-bats against the Astros and hitless in his past 18 at-bats.

"It's just a matter of time," Yankees designated hitter Matt Holliday said of Judge and Sanchez producing big postseason moments.

In the eighth, after Judge tied the game, Sanchez produced his biggest hit to date by lacing Giles' 2-0 fastball to the warning track in center field to put the Yankees up 6-4.

"I just think they're very calm and they're very poised," New York's Chase Headley said of Judge and Sanchez. "They're very comfortable with who they are, and they trust who they are is enough, and it is enough."

Upon reaching second, Sanchez clapped his hands emphatically and pointed to a boisterous Yankees dugout, which was joining the crowd in expressing excitement.

"Emotions are raw," Sanchez said through an interpreter. "You're standing on second base and can't even control them."

Chad Green (1-0) pitched two innings and was credited with the win. He gave up an unearned run. Aroldis Chapman fanned two in the ninth for his third save of the postseason.

Giles threw 37 pitches in getting a five-out save in Game 1 but also gave up a home run to Greg Bird before closing it out. He also allowed a homer to Boston's Rafael Devers in Game 4 of the AL Division Series before getting the save.

The right-hander came on trying to get a six-out save but recorded only one out on Brett Gardner's RBI grounder that made it a one-run game.

"They laid off some very good pitches, and they were ready to go," Giles said.

Before Giles collapsed, the Astros seemed poised for a series-clinching game with their ace on the mound. They led by four runs, and McCullers was cruising by keeping the Yankees quiet with his curveball.

The Astros did little offensively before taking a 3-0 lead on a bases-clearing double by Yuli Gurriel off David Robertson in the sixth. They added their fourth run in the seventh when Marwin Gonzalez scored on second baseman Starlin Castro's error.

"The series wasn't over after two games," Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. "It's certainly not over after four."

McCullers allowed one run and two hits in six-plus innings. He was lifted after allowing Judge's homer.

New York's Sonny Gray gave up two runs (one earned) and one hit in five-plus innings. He was lifted after bouncing ball one in the dirt to Jose Altuve, who loaded the bases by working a walk against Robertson.

NOTES: New York manager Joe Girardi said using C Austin Romine in RHP Sonny Gray's simulated game Friday was a precursor to Romine starting Game 4. Romine committed an error that led to a Houston run. ... Asked about the reaction pregame at Yankee Stadium before Game 3, Astros LHP Dallas Keuchel said, "To have some boos last night getting introduced, that was a nice feel. You get boos against the evil empire at the home turf, it makes you feel good just because you're doing your job correctly. ... Houston's left-handed hitters were 0-for-28 in the series until switch-hitting DH Carlos Beltran doubled in the second inning.

Astros announce starter for ALCS Game 4 vs. Yankees following Game 3 loss

By Dayn Perry / CBS Sports

Following the Astros' loss to the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALDS on Monday (NYY 8, HOU 1), Houston manager A.J. Hinch announced that right-hander Lance McCullers would be his starter for Tuesday's Game back in the Bronx.

About the decision, Hinch had this to say on Monday night:

"He's a really good pitcher. He's got really electrifying stuff, some of the best stuff in the big leagues. ... big-time breaking ball. The whole league knows it. He's got a really good fastball. He had a really good bullpen in between his last outing and the next outing tomorrow.
...

"I don't have to remind all you guys, he was an All-Star to start the year, he has some of the best stuff in the big leagues and we believe in him."

During the regular season, the 24-year-old McCullers pitched to a 4.25 ERA (93 ERA+) with a 3.30 K/BB ratio in 22 starts and 118 2/3 innings. McCullers faded badly in the second half before missing more than a month with lower back problems. He still struggled following his return from the DL. McCullers will come into Game 4 having failed to log a quality start since June 8.

However, in two starts against the Yankees this season (one of which occurred in the second half), McCullers put up an ERA of 2.38 with 13 strikeouts against just two walks. Hitters presently on the Yankee roster have combined to hit .210/.290/.310 against McCullers in 62 total plate appearances.

On the other side, Sonny Gray will go for the host Yankees in Game 4. Going into that contest, the Astros lead the best-of-seven series by a margin of two games to one.

Judge gets Yankees back in ALCS with 8-1 rout

NEW YORK -- In the top of the fourth inning Monday, New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge raced back on a fly ball by Yuli Gurriel, crashed into the wall, held on and prevented the Houston Astros from doing some significant damage.

In the bottom of the inning, Judge hit a ball that nobody could catch.

Judge made an outstanding grab and highlighted a five-run inning with a three-run homer as the Yankees beat the Astros 8-1 in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series.

The Astros lead the series 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.

Judge ensured Houston would not be going for the sweep by producing defensively and offensively.

With the Yankees already holding a 3-0 lead after Todd Frazier's three-run homer in the second inning off Charlie Morton, Gurriel lofted a 2-0 pitch to deep right field. Judge raced back, made a slight leap, and the 6-foot-7 rookie crashed into the wall headfirst and held on while falling on the warning track.

"It was an awesome catch," New York shortstop Didi Gregorius said. "I'm surprised he jumped."

Yankees starter CC Sabathia (1-0) turned and watched the ball sail toward the fence. When Judge completed the catch, Sabathia raised both arms in the air to express his excitement at a potential home run being taken away.

"That was just a great play," Sabathia said. "Off the bat, here with the short right field (porch), I didn't know what the result was going to be, but for him to go up and go all out and make that catch was unbelievable."

Judge made four catches overall, including a diving grab on Cameron Maybin to start the fifth, but it was his leap against the wall that had his teammates gushing about his defense.

It also was his second highlight-reel catch of the postseason. In Game 3 of the AL Division Series, Judge made a leaping grab on Cleveland shortstop Francisco Lindor to take away a certain two-run homer in a game the Yankees won 1-0.

"That's what we want," Frazier said. "That's what every teammate wants to see. As a pitcher, you dream of that kind of stuff, and he's been doing that all year."

After making the catch on Gurriel, Judge hit a 2-2 fastball from reliever Will Harris into the left field seats, giving the Yankees an 8-0 lead. It was his second homer of the postseason after he hit 52 in the regular season. The hit was just Judge's fifth of the playoffs.

"I know how dangerous he is," New York manager Joe Girardi said. "He can change a game really quickly."

Before Judge connected, the Yankees extended the lead to 4-0 on an infield single by Chase Headley and made it 5-0 when Frazier scored on a wild pitch by Harris during Judge's at-bat.

"I was just trying to see a cutter up in the zone," Judge said. "I think the bases were loaded before that and then (a) wild pitch and we scored, but, yeah, just try to get a pitch up and do some damage."

Judge's eventful fourth helped Sabathia, who delivered his first career scoreless postseason start. In six innings, Sabathia allowed three hits, worked around four walks, struck out five and threw 99 pitches.

"It was his night," Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. "He played defense tonight. He did a lot of things well for them and really was a big difference in the game."

The biggest pitch Sabathia threw occurred in the third when the Astros loaded the bases on two walks and a single in the third. The left-hander escaped by getting Carlos Correa on a popup to Gregorius.

The Astros barely avoided being shut out for the fourth time in a postseason game, scoring their lone run on a bases-loaded walk by Alex Bregman in the ninth.

Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa were a combined 1-for-8 after going 8-for-15 in the first two games of the series.

"CC was really good tonight because he didn't make a lot of mistakes," Hinch said. "We swung a little bit to the margins on the outside of the strike zone."

After Houston got dominant starts from Dallas Keuchel and Justin Verlander in the first two games, Morton (0-1) struggled through 3 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs on six hits.

NOTES: New York RHP Luis Severino was not sent for tests after exiting Game 2 after four innings for precautionary reasons. The Yankees thought he might have a shoulder injury when he was taken out, but he is on track to start Game 6 if necessary. ... RHP Lance McCullers Jr. will start Game 4 for Houston against Yankees RHP Sonny Gray. ... Houston bench coach Alex Cora is reportedly interviewing for the vacant New York Mets managerial opening Tuesday. He interviewed for the Boston Red Sox's managerial opening on Monday. ... Chase Headley's single in the fourth inning was the first hit by a Yankees designated hitter in the postseason. It ended an 0-for-28 skid in this year's postseason. ... Former Yankees CF Bernie Williams threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Correa walk-off 2B gives Astros 2-1 victory over Yankees

HOUSTON -- The adulation heaped upon right-hander Justin Verlander since his waiver-deadline arrival from Detroit had been steady and sincere, a reflection of the respect he has garnered after an exceptional career.

His teammates hoped that would continue in earnest once Verlander took his spot in the Houston rotation after the calendar flipped to September.

On Saturday at Minute Maid Park, Verlander delivered upon that promise when, combined with a walk-off double from Carlos Correa, led the Astros to a riveting 2-1 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series.

With Jose Altuve on first base after his one-out single in the ninth inning, Correa drilled a 3-2 fastball from Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman (0-1) into right-center field.

When Altuve rounded the bases, Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge made his relay toss to shortstop Didi Gregorius, whose subsequent throw home handcuffed catcher Gary Sanchez, allowing Altuve to score.

Altuve and Correa each had two hits, with Correa scoring once and driving in both runs. The Astros take a 2-0 series lead to New York for Game 3 at Yankee Stadium on Monday.

"In the last inning when we were playing defense ... or warming up and I tell Altuve, 'We got to do this for the team, we got to come through right now in this inning'," Correa said. "He's like, 'OK, let's do it.' So he got a base hit and I said, 'OK, I got to do something here, we talked about it.'

So, 3-2 count, I was just trying to get on top of a fastball and he (Chapman) threw a good fastball to hit and I hit it in the gap.

"The whole time I think that was going to be a chance (for an out at the plate) because he (Judge) cut it off really good. But then when I saw him (Altuve) running I was like, 'Oh God,' and then, obviously, he beat it out."

Verlander (1-0) produced an otherworldly effort, working nine innings while allowing one run, five hits and one walk with 13 strikeouts. He threw 124 pitches, the third-most in his postseason career, including a whopping 93 strikes.

Verlander was at 97 pitches through seven innings and returned to strike out Todd Frazier, Chase Headley and Brett Gardner in the eighth.

After that feat, it was obvious that the ball would be his again when the ninth rolled around.

"And really after the eighth inning he didn't even ask (if Verlander was too fatigued to continue)," Verlander said of Astros manager A.J. Hinch. "I don't think he needed to.

"He asked after the seventh and I kind of like probably wasn't the nicest guy to him and just like, 'Yeah, I'm good.' And then there was no conversation after the eighth. It was mine to win or lose."

Correa turned around a fastball from Yankees starter Luis Severino for an opposite-field homer in the fourth, with a young fan in the first row of the outfield seats deflecting the ball into the stands. A subsequent review determined that there was no fan interference, putting the Yankees in a 1-0 hole and leaving Judge to lament how he just missed robbing Correa.

"I got back there a little late," said Judge, who finished 0-for-4 at the plate with two strikeouts. "I just wasn't able to get back and get a good read to the wall and get up there and make a play. Just wasn't able to make the play."

With two outs in the fifth, after striking out Greg Bird and Starlin Castro to open the inning, Verlander surrendered consecutive doubles to Aaron Hicks and Frazier, the second lodging between the padding and chain-link fence fronting the visiting bullpen in left-center field.

Hicks scored on the Frazier ground-rule double, but Verlander induced a flyout from Headley to preserve the tie and set the table to keep pitching in a manner matching the expectations.

"He pitched well. He pitched really well,"Frazier said. "He's been doing it his whole career. He mixes pitches well.

"His slider was working great today. I was lucky to hit one that was out over the plate. You tip your cap to a guy like that."

NOTES: Astros LF Marwin Gonzalez and his wife, Noel, welcomed their third child, a boy, early Saturday morning. Gonzalez dropped off his wife at the hospital before Game 1 and returned immediately after fulfilling media obligations. ... Yankees manager Joe Girardi celebrated his 53rd birthday. In five previous postseason appearances as Yankees manager, Girardi managed on his birthday once: a 3-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers in Game 2 of the 2012 ALCS. ... At 23 years, 236 days old, RHP Luis Severino became the second-youngest Yankees pitcher to start an ALCS game. Dave Righetti was 22 years, 321 days old when he started Game 3 of the 1981 ALCS at Oakland. ... The Astros completed their Aug. 31 trade with Detroit for RHP Justin Verlander, receiving OF Juan Ramirez as the player to be named. Ramirez spent 2017 with the Gulf Coast League Tigers West.

Keuchel pitches Astros to Game 1 win over Yankees

HOUSTON -- Having done what he seemingly always does against a franchise he reverentially lauds as storied, Houston Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel was again left lacking for an explanation for his brilliance against the team in pinstripes with 27 World Series trophies back in the Bronx.

Keuchel continued his mastery of the New York Yankees by twirling seven shutout innings in the Astros' 2-1 victory on Friday night at Minute Maid Park in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.

Keuchel (1-0) surrendered only four hits and issued just one walk while recording 10 strikeouts to become the third pitcher in franchise history to record a double-digit strikeout game in the postseason. Right-handers Mike Scott and Nolan Ryan accomplished the feat against the New York Mets in Games 1 and 5 of the 1986 National League Championship Series.

After needing a marvelous defensive play from left fielder Marwin Gonzalez to escape the fifth inning and running his pitch count to 97 through the close of the sixth, Keuchel returned for the seventh and retired the side on 12 pitches. He set down the final six batters he faced and improved to 6-2 with a 1.09 ERA against the Yankees, including a pair of postseason wins.

"There's really no hard explanation for it," said Keuchel, who worked six innings while pitching Houston to a 3-0 win in the 2015 AL Wild Card Game at Yankee Stadium. "I think it's just pitch execution and it's just been there more times than it hasn't against the Yankees."

The Astros mustered all the offense they would need in the fourth inning.

Jose Altuve produced the first hit of the game off Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (0-1) with a one-out infield single before adding a stolen base that put him in scoring position for Carlos Correa.

Correa followed with a sharp single to left field that scored Altuve and, two batters later, Correa came home when Yuli Gurriel singled to center field with two outs, doubling the lead.

Tanaka worked six strong innings, allowing four hits and one walk with three strikeouts.

"Really another strong outing," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of Tanaka. "Just a really good outing."

Tanaka took a line drive off his leg to start the sixth and was replaced by Chad Green in the seventh.

"So he took the line drive off his leg (leading off the sixth inning) and was able to finish, and that's not the reason I took him out," Girardi said. "I took him out because I thought he gave us everything he had and I thought it was time to make a change. But just another great outing."

Astros closer Ken Giles tallied a white-knuckle, five-out save, stranding two baserunners with a strikeout of Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius in the eighth inning before surrendering a two-out home run to Yankees first baseman Greg Bird in the ninth. Giles recovered to strike out pinch hitter Jacoby Ellsbury, his fourth strikeout of his outing and the 14th by Houston pitching.

"We had a couple times there where we had some opportunities to score and put some runs up, but we came up short," Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner said. "(We were) facing good pitching, and sometimes things don't go your way."

One opportunity came with two outs in the fifth when right fielder Aaron Judge lined a 3-2 pitch to left field and Bird, who opened the frame with a single to right, rounded third base and headed home. Gonzalez delivered with an accurate throw home.

Astros catcher Brian McCann fielded the ball and applied the tag on Bird to end the threat. Girardi requested a review but after 80 seconds, the call was upheld.

Gonzalez, a shortstop by trade who earned starts at all four infield positions, made 38 starts in left during the regular season. His growing familiarity there again paid dividends for Houston.

"I think the key is, my team has helped me a lot; I'm always trying to learn from them," Gonzalez said of his transition to the outfield. "Like that's new for me.

"I think that this year is the most games that I have played in the outfield and I think I have to keep learning and playing hard."

NOTES: Astros RHP Charlie Morton (14-7, 3.62 ERA) will get the start in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium, with RHPs Brad Peacock (13-2, 3.00 ERA) and Lance McCullers (7-4, 4.25 ERA) the leading candidates to start Game 4. Morton allowed four runs with 10 strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings in a 10-7 win in the Bronx on May 14. ... Yankees RHP Sonny Gray, the scheduled starter for Game 4, threw a simulated game on Thursday. Gray last pitched on Oct. 5 in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Indians. ... Astros manager A.J. Hinch made one change to his ALCS roster, replacing INF Tyler White with RHP Collin McHugh. Facing the potential of games on three consecutive days in New York, Hinch opted to add a 12th pitcher to his active roster. ... After not appearing in the ALDS, Yankees DH Matt Holliday batted eighth and finished 0-for-3.

Gregorious homers twice as Yanks cap comeback, KO Indians

TSX / STATS

CLEVELAND — The last time New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi was in Cleveland, "I was about as low as I could be as a baseball player or baseball coach or whatever I was."

Girardi and his team returned to Cleveland on Wednesday night, and they completed a stunning comeback to upset the winningest team in the American League.

Didi Gregorius hit two home runs and drove in three runs, and the Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians 5-2 in the deciding Game 5 of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field.

After losing the first two games of the series, the Yankees won three in a row, outscoring Cleveland 13-5. The Indians hadn't lost three consecutive games since July 30-Aug. 1.

"It's hard to believe, because we just beat a really, really good team," Girardi said.

"It's disappointing," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. "We came down the stretch playing very good baseball. Nobody wanted the season to be over. It doesn't wind down. It comes to a crashing halt."

New York advances to oppose the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series. Game 1 will be played Friday in Houston.

The Indians, who won 102 games during the regular season, including an American League-record 22-game winning streak, were picked by many to make a second straight World Series appearance. However, New York's pitching staff had other ideas. In the last three games of the series, Yankees pitchers completely shut down Cleveland's offense.

Cleveland hit .152 as a team in Games 3, 4 and 5, and New York held the lead in all 27 innings. The Indians, who made the fewest errors in the American League this year, committed seven errors in the last two games.

"We did things in this series that were out of character for our team," said Francona.

Cleveland won the first two games of the series, including a wild, 13-inning, 9-8 victory in Game 2. In that game, Girardi failed to challenge an umpire's call that would have prevented the Indians' Francisco Lindor from hitting a momentum-swinging grand slam.

"I screwed up, plain and simple. So, for me, what those guys did for me, I'll never forget it," Girardi said of his players rallying to win the series.

Yankees starter CC Sabathia pitched four strong innings Wednesday before faltering in the fifth. He struck out nine and was charged with two runs in 4 1/3 innings. David Robertson (1-0) entered and pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings to get the win.

Aroldis Chapman shut out Cleveland over the last two innings to pick up his second save of the series.

Gregorius went 3-for-4, and Brett Gardner added three hits and an RBI for New York.

Cleveland starter Corey Kluber (0-1) lasted only 3 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on three hits and two walks.

Leading 3-2, the Yankees scored two insurance runs in the ninth inning as a result of an RBI single by Gardner off Cody Allen, capping a 12-pitch at-bat. The second run on the play scored on a throwing error by right fielder Jay Bruce.

The Yankees wasted little time in taking the lead against Kluber. Gregorius, the No. 3 hitter, hit a 1-2 pitch into the seats in right field for his first home run.

"It was a fastball, and I put a really good swing on it," Gregorius said.

The Yankees didn't score again until Gregorius batted again. This time, in the third inning, he hit an 0-1 pitch into the right field seats for a two-run homer to make it 3-0.

"He threw me a curveball or slider or cutter inside again, I put a good swing on it, and it went out," Gregorius said.

Sabathia, meanwhile, was mesmerizing Cleveland hitters. The big lefty retired the first nine batters he faced, striking out six of them.

The Indians finally solved Sabathia in the fifth inning with four straight one-out singles, by Austin Jackson, Jay Bruce, Roberto Perez and Giovanny Urshela.

The hits by Perez and Urshela produced runs, cutting the Yankees' lead to 3-2, but that was as close as Cleveland got.

NOTES: Prior to hitting home runs in his first two at-bats against RHP Corey Kluber on Wednesday night, Yankees SS Didi Gregorius was 2-for-15 in his career vs. the former AL Cy Young Award winner. ... New York DH Jacoby Ellsbury, who has reached first base on catcher's interference a major-league-record 31 times in his career, reached on catcher's interference in the second inning. ... Kluber, who led the major leagues with a 2.25 ERA this year, had a 12.79 ERA in two starts in the Division Series. ... Indians DH Edwin Encarnacion was back in the lineup for Game 5 after missing the previous two games with a sprained right ankle. He went 0-for-4. ... Yankees RF Aaron Judge went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts. He finished 1-for-20 with 16 strikeouts in the series.

Bauer, Indians blank Yankees in ALDS opener

(TSX / STATS) -- CLEVELAND -- Nobody is questioning Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona's decision now, except perhaps the New York Yankees.

Francona's decision to start Trevor Bauer over ace Corey Kluber in Game 1 of the American League Division Series couldn't have turned out better.

Bauer pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings and combined with two relievers on a three-hitter, and Jay Bruce had a home run and three RBIs as the Indians beat the Yankees 4-0 on Thursday night at Progressive Field.

Indians pitchers led the majors with 19 shutouts this season, and they tossed one in their first postseason game.

"You do what you think is right," Francona said of his decision to start Bauer. "It doesn't always turn out the way you want to, but I was completely comfortable with our decision."

Bauer (1-0) did not give up a hit until Aaron Hicks doubled with one out in the sixth inning. The only other hit against Bauer was a single by Starlin Castro with two outs in the seventh.

Bauer threw 98 pitches, striking out eight with one walk.

"He pitched his heart out," Francona said.

"His curveball was really good, as good as we've seen it," Yankee manager Joe Girardi said.

Bauer was 17-9 during the regular season. In three starts vs. the Yankees this year, he is 3-0 with a 0.92 ERA. In 19 2/3 innings against New York, he has allowed two runs and 13 hits with 19 strikeouts.

"They've got a very dangerous lineup, but Roberto (Perez, Indians catcher) called a good game, and I executed well," Bauer said. "I had good stuff, located well and had a good curve from the get-go."

Andrew Miller followed Bauer to the mound and struck out three of the five batters he faced, but the left-hander walked two in the eighth inning.

Closer Cody Allen relieved Miller with runners at first and second and two outs, and he struck out Aaron Judge to end the inning.

Allen retired the side in the ninth to pick up the save.

Judge, who led the American League with 52 home runs, was 0-for-4 with four strikeouts.

"I thought he had some good swings. He'll be back tomorrow," Girardi said.

Cleveland's three pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts.

Yankees starter Sonny Gray (0-1) pitched 3 1/3 innings, giving up three runs and three hits with two strikeouts and four walks.

Bauer held the Yankees hitless and scoreless through the first five innings. Only two Yankees reached base in that span -- Greg Bird on a four-pitch walk in the second inning and Judge, who struck out but reached first on a wild pitch in the fourth.

The Indians took an early lead when Bruce led off the bottom of the second by bouncing a double off the left field wall. Bruce went to third on a single by Carlos Santana, and Lonnie Chisenhall was hit by a pitch.

Bruce scored when Perez grounded into a double play. Giovanny Urshela flied out to end the inning.

The Indians scored two runs in the fourth. Edwin Encarnacion led off with a walk, and Bruce hit a towering fly ball to right field that sailed into the seats for a home run, giving Cleveland a 3-0 lead.

"It's a good thing he showed up tonight. He drove in most of our runs," Francona said.

"I got a couple of pitches I was able to handle, and it worked out," Bruce said.

The Indians added to their lead in the fifth inning, thanks to two wild pitches by reliever Adam Warren. Jose Ramirez singled, went to second and third on wild pitches, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Bruce against reliever Jaime Garcia to make it 4-0.

"I'm aware how much runs are at a premium in the postseason, so I knew how much it meant for us to get that run in," Bruce said.

Especially now, with Kluber going in Game 2 for the defending American League champs.

"Being up 1-0, and having our ace going in Game 2, I think that bodes well for us," Bruce said.

NOTES: RHP Corey Kluber was 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in two starts against the Yankees this year. In seven career starts against New York, Kluber is 5-1 with a 1.80 ERA. ... The Indians have won five of the eight AL Division Series they have been in (1995, 1997, 1998, 2007 and 2016). ... Yankees RHP Sonny Gray's 3 1/3 innings marked the shortest outing of his 12 starts since being acquired by New York from the Oakland A's at midseason. ... LHP CC Sabathia, who will start Game 2 for the Yankees, was Cleveland's first-round pick in the 1998 draft and won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award as a member of the Indians. Sabathia was 19-7 that year.

Yanks, Indians set for Game 1 with aces in hole

Stats, LLC
(TSX / STATS) -- CLEVELAND -- When the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians meet Thursday night in Game 1 of their American League Division Series at Progressive Field, something will be missing from both teams: their aces.

Yankees ace Luis Severino started the AL wild-card game against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, making him unavailable for a Game 1 start.

Indians ace Corey Kluber is rested but will start Game 2 instead of Game 1 because manager Terry Francona wants to have Kluber available, on his normal day to pitch, for a potential Game 5.

Instead, it will be New York's Sonny Gray vs. Cleveland's Trevor Bauer in Game 1 on Thursday.

The Indians come into the game with the best record in the American League, 102-60, having won 34 of their last 38 games, a streak that included their American League-record, 22-game winning streak.

The Indians went 5-2 against the Yankees this year. Three of those wins came during Cleveland's 22-game winning streak.

"We were part of that (streak). We were in the early part of it," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "They've really been on a roll the last 50, 60 games, playing as well as anyone. Obviously, we're going to have to play our best. We know that. But that's the way the playoffs should be."

One of the biggest challenges for Indians pitchers will be trying to neutralize Yankees rookie slugger Aaron Judge, who hit a rookie-record 52 home runs this season and added another in New York's 8-4 win over Minnesota in the wild-card game.

"He's good for Major League Baseball, but he's bad for the teams you're playing against," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "I know if you throw it in the wrong place, he's going to hit it a long way."

In 27 starts overall this year for the Oakland A's and New York, Gray was 10-12 with a 3.55 ERA. In 11 starts for the Yankees, he went 4-7 with a 3.72 ERA. He started three times against the Indians this year, going 1-2 with a 4.86 ERA.

"Top to bottom, they have a really good lineup," Gray said. "I've thrown against them a couple times this year, and in the past I've thrown against them. They are really well balanced. You come out and make pitches, and you see what happens."

Gray's last start against Cleveland came on Aug. 3, a 5-1 loss in which he pitched six innings, giving up four runs, two earned, on four hits, with six strikeouts and three walks in his Yankees debut. Gray's career record against Cleveland is 3-3 with a 3.38 ERA.

Bauer had a breakout season this year, going 17-9 with a 4.19 ERA. In two starts against the Yankees he was 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA.

"They've got a lot of guys who hit for power. They've got some scrappy guys that put the ball in play and run," Bauer said. "They can do a lot of things offensively, and they're well balanced."

Bauer said his good numbers vs. the Yankees this year don't count for anything in October.

"None of that matters for this start," he said. "The playoffs are a different animal, and any team can beat you on any day."

Bauer's last start against New York came on Aug. 30, a 2-1 win in which he pitched six innings, giving up one run on four hits with four strikeouts and four walks. In eight career starts against the Yankees, Bauer is 3-4 with a 4.20 ERA.

What a relief: Yankees rally past Twins

(TSX / STATS) -- NEW YORK -- About 20 minutes into the American League wild-card game, the Minnesota Twins stunned the Yankees with three early runs, enough to knock out New York starting pitcher Luis Severino.

Then the Yankees put on a power display on the mound and at the plate, setting up a celebration and their next order of business -- a date with the Cleveland Indians in the AL Division Series.

Severino was lifted after recording one out into the first inning, but Didi Gregorius hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the first and four relievers combined on 13 strikeouts as New York stormed back for an 8-4 victory over Minnesota on Tuesday.

Brian Dozier opened the game by hitting Severino's fifth pitch into the first row of the left field seats fence, and Eddie Rosario lined the right-hander's 17th pitch into the right field seats for a two-run shot. Two more hits sprung the bullpen into action, beginning with Chad Green.

Green struck out two with runners on second and third, and the Yankees quickly rebounded from the stunning start.

"That's a huge spot," Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia said. "We expect Green to get out of that. That's who he is, that's what he's done, and that's our bullpen."

Gregorius tied the game by hitting Ervin Santana's full-count fastball over the right field fence with one out in the first, and Brett Gardner gave the Yankees a 4-3 lead by lifting another full-count fastball into the right field seats in the second inning.

"Scoring those runs right in the first inning, just that there was -- what I've seen all year, is the fight in this club," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I saw it in spring training. I did. But you see the resolve, and they never get down."

After the Twins tied it 4-4 in the top of the third, Greg Bird hit a go-ahead single off Jose Berrios (0-1) in the bottom of the third. An inning later, Aaron Judge slugged Berrios' 0-1 curveball into the left field stands.

"We got down early," Judge said. "With the type of bullpen we have, the lineup, we're never out of a ballgame."

By then the Yankees were continuing their historic bullpen performance, tying the major league record for strikeouts by relievers in a postseason game and matching a team record for relief innings. The Yankees tied the strikeout mark set by the Chicago Cubs, who did it in six innings during Game 4 of the 2015 National League Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

New York matched the team mark for relief innings set in Game 6 of the 1958 World Series against the Milwaukee Braves, a 4-3, 10-inning Yankees victory.

"That's what it's all about," Judge said. "Big-time players, they make big-time plays in big-time games, that's what they do."

Green was the only New York reliever to get scored upon, the run coming hom on Byron Buxton's groundout against David Robertson with the bases loaded in the third. Robertson worked out of the bases-loaded jam, pitched a career-high 3 1/3 innings and was awarded the win by the official scorer.

"I feel like our entire team never gives up, and we're always going to grind and try to win a ballgame," Robertson said.

Aaron Hicks drove in the Yankees' other run with a bases-loaded walk in the seventh. Relievers Tommy Kahnle and Aroldis Chapman finished off New York's first playoff victory since Sabathia pitched a complete game in Game 5 of the 2012 ALDS against the Baltimore Orioles.

Kahnle delivered 2 1/3 scoreless frames, and Chapman finished it off by allowing a hit and striking out three in the ninth.

The Twins dropped their 13th straight playoff game after Santana was unable to protect the early lead. It is tied for the longest postseason losing streak in baseball history, matching the Boston Red Sox from Oct. 25, 1986-Oct. 6, 1995.

Minnesota's last playoff victory was a 2-0 shutout at Yankee Stadium on Oct. 5, 2004. During the current streak, 10 of the Twins' postseason defeats were against the Yankees.

"I think you just understand that you've got to find ways to persevere through a game like that because there's a lot of pitches thrown," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "There's a lot of lead changes early, and unfortunately it got to their 'pen and all those guys did an outstanding job.

"There was a lot of -- as far as mood swings early, they were obviously just because of the way that the pendulum swung."

Santana allowed four runs and three hits in two innings. Berrios gave up three runs and five hits in three frames.

"It stings right now," Twins first baseman Joe Mauer said. "We had some chances. Unfortunately, we came up a little short."

NOTES: Twins manager Paul Molitor said the decision to keep 3B/DH Miguel Sano (shin) off the roster stemmed from Sano not being able to generate enough force and power with his front leg during batting practice Monday. Molitor also said Sano was experiencing some discomfort during the Sunday game. ... New York LHP Chasen Shreve, who is among several major-leaguers from Las Vegas, threw out the ceremonial first pitch in tribute to the victims of the mass shooting on Sunday. ... RF Aaron Judge was the first Yankees rookie to homer in a postseason game since Hideki Matsui in Game 2 of the 2003 World Series.

Upstart Twins, Yankees set for wild-card game

(TSX / STATS) -- NEW YORK -- Preseason projections were low for the Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees for varying reasons.

When forecasts were made, Minnesota and New York were not supposed to plan for a postseason game.

The Twins were coming off a disastrous 103-loss season while the Yankees were transitioning to a younger core.

Both teams defied projections by claiming the two wild-card spots in the American League, with the reward being an elimination game Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.

The winner advances to the AL Division Series against the Cleveland Indians.

The Yankees started off strong, winning 21 of their first 30 and improving their mark to 38-23 by June 12. They slumped for about a month, were 45-40 at the All-Star break and finished with a 21-8 surge to get to 91-71.

It resulted in their most successful regular season since 2012, which ended with a trip to the ALCS. Since then, the Yankees missed the playoffs in three of the next four seasons and their only postseason game since 2012 occurred when they were shut out by the Houston Astros in the 2015 wild-card game.

For the Twins (85-77), it was a different path to their first postseason berth since 2010.

The Twins hovered near .500 most of the first three months but were 3-9 from July 23 to Aug. 5. After management opted to become a seller at the trade deadline, Minnesota responded by winning 13 of 17 to go over .500 for good. The Twins went 33-21 after Aug. 5 and finished five games ahead of the Los Angeles Angels.

"I think some guys were a little more upset than others, but they've responded," Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said. "Whatever your motivation is, that's fine."

Both teams did it with a mix of youth and some veterans.

When the Yankees last won a playoff game, Aaron Judge was a few months away from starting his junior season at Fresno State, Gary Sanchez just completed his third minor league season and Luis Severino had 14 starts under his belt in the Dominican Summer League.

Five years later, Judge broke the rookie home run record by slugging 52, including 33 at home and 15 in his final month after slumping in August.

Sanchez belted 33 homers despite missing most of April with a biceps injury and did it after hitting 20 in 53 games last season.

Severino emerged as the ace by going 14-6, striking out 230 and posting a 2.98 ERA. He achieved those numbers after going 0-8 as a starting pitcher last season following 11 decent starts in the final two months of 2015.

"He's been pretty darn good this year," Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner said. "One of the top two or three right-handed starters in the game this year."

When the Twins last reached the playoffs, Eddie Rosario just completed his first minor league season in the Gulf Coast League as did Miguel Sano. Brian Dozier was slightly more advanced in the minors in 2010 and reached the majors in 2012.

This season, Rosario slugged 16 of his 27 homers in the final two months. Sano hit 28 before missing a month with a shin injury that might keep him out of the starting lineup while Dozier launched half of his 34 homers in the final two months of the season.

Gardner and Joe Mauer, who were on their teams when the Yankees beat the Twins in the 2010 ALDS, also had solid seasons.

Gardner recorded career highs in homers (21) and runs scored (96) in 151 games.

Mauer batted .305 in 141 games after hitting no higher than .277 in his previous three seasons. His 160 hits were his most since 2012 and his 71 RBIs were his most since 2012 as well.

"It's been a special year to see these guys kind of grow, and to experience that with this team is pretty special," Mauer said. "So, it's good to be back."

The pitching matchup also is a contrast of youth and experience.

Severino was on the postseason roster for New York's wild-card loss in 2015 and earned the starting assignment for this game by going 9-2 with a 2.28 ERA in his final 14 starts.

"We've been really pleased with how he's done, how he's matured as a pitcher, his ability to slow things down, and that will become very important tomorrow," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

After getting some offseason tips from Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez, Severino finished third in the American League in ERA, placed fourth in strikeouts, third in hits per nine innings (6.98) and fourth in strikeouts per nine innings (10.51).

"He told me that, if I change my mechanics a little bit, I'll be more consistent in my strike zone," Severino said. "That's what I did, and that's how that worked out and helped me."

The right-hander's lone experience against the Twins occurred on Sept. 20 in New York and turned in his second-shortest start. He allowed three runs in three innings while throwing 71 pitches, including 13 to Mauer, who hit an RBI single off him.

Ervin Santana completed his third season with Minnesota by going 16-8 with a 3.28 ERA that was the second-lowest of his career and a 1.13 WHIP that also was his second-lowest of his career.

Santana went 5-1 with his last 12 starts. The one loss occurred Sept. 18 in New York when Santana allowed two runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. One of those runs was Judge's 44th homer.

"The guy is huge," Santana said. "The guy is tall. Like he covered the whole home plate."

In the regular season, Santana is 6-10 with a 5.66 ERA in 20 starts against the Yankees.

During the postseason, Santana is 2-2 with 5.56 ERA in eight games (two starts). Against the Yankees in postseason play, he pitched 5 1/3 relief innings and recorded the win for the Angels in Game 5 of the 2005 ALDS and was 1-1 in a pair of relief outings with that club in the 2009 ALCS.