NEW YORK (AP) – Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorius and a brilliant bullpen rescued New York from a rugged start, lifting the Yankees to their first postseason win in five years.
Gregorius’ three-run homer tied the score after Minnesota knocked out Luis Severino in the first inning, a pumped-up Judge showed his most emotion this season when he hit a two-run shot in his postseason debut and the Yankees beat the Twins 8-4 Tuesday night in the AL wild-card game.
Brett Gardner also homered for the Yankees, who chased Ervin Santana after two innings and once again knocked the Twins out of the playoffs.
New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge celebrates in the dugout with teammates after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning of the American League wild-card playoff baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Chad Green, David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle and Aroldis Chapman combined for 8 2/3 innings of one-run, five-hit relief.
New York opens the AL Division Series on Thursday at AL Central Cleveland. The Twins lost their 13th consecutive postseason game, equaling the record set by Boston from 1986-95.
Brian Dozier led off the game with a home run and Eddie Rosario hit a two-run drive as the Twins burst to a quick lead and stunned the sellout crowd of 49,280 at Yankee Stadium.
But Santana was little better than Severino, going to full counts on eight of 11 batters. Gregorius erased the lead four batters into the bottom of the first, and Santana was removed after six outs and 64 pitches with the Twins trailing 4-3.
Minnesota, the first team to rebound from a 100-loss season and make the playoffs the following year, has been eliminated by the Yankees in five of its last six postseason appearances and has not won a playoff series since 2002.
Judge, the 6-foot-7 sensation who set a rookie record with 52 home runs, was given a Ruthian ovation, with several sections of fans holding signs in his honor spelling out “All Rise!” He scored three runs, singling to help ignite the first-inning rally, smoking a 108 mph home run off loser Jose Berrios in the fourth and walking in the seventh and coming home when Alan Busenitz walked Jacoby Ellsbury with the bases loaded.
New York had made just one postseason appearance since 2012, losing the 2015 wild-card game to Houston 3-0. Just three Yankees who started that game were in the starting lineup, part of a Baby Bombers movement that purged the roster of veterans.
At 23, Severino was the youngest Yankees postseason starter since Andy Pettitte in 1995. The right-hander lasted only 29 pitches on a crisp autumn night and matched the Yankees’ shortest postseason start, by Bob Turley in Game 2 of the 1958 World Series and Art Ditmar in the 1960 World Series opener. Dozier homered into the left-field seats on a 99 mph fastball and Rosario lined a slider just over the right-field short porch.
Severino was shaking his head as walked to the dugout and Green replaced him with runners at second and third. Green struck out Byron Buxton and Jason Castro, then fanned three in a row in the second.
Green gave up Jorge Polanco’s single and a pair of walks in the third. Robertson came in with the bases loaded and Buxton’s RBI grounder, then struck out Castro.
Robertson tired in the sixth but earned the win, leaving after 52 pitches and 3 1/3 innings – both career highs.
Kahnle relieved with a runner on and retired Joe Mauer on a flyout to the warning track. After Kahnle threw 2 1/3 innings, Chapman struck out three around a hit the ninth.
A pitcher named Santana – Johan Santana – beat the Yankees for the Twins’ last postseason win in 2004. But Ervin Santana contributed to a first inning that lasted 45 minutes and three innings that took 1:43, and his career postseason ERA climbed to 6.57.
Gardner walked leading off, Judge poked a bloop single to center and Gregorius lined a fastball over the right-field scoreboard. Brushed off the plate by a 2-2 pitch in the second, Gardner sent Santana’s next offering into the second deck in right for a 4-3 lead.
Green struck the side in the second, but left in the third after a leadoff single and two walks loaded the bases. Buxton hit into a run-scoring forceout before Robertson struck out Castro, and the Yankees went ahead for good in the bottom half when Gary Sanchez doubled off Berrios leading off and scored on Greg Bird’s two-out single.
NATIONAL ANTHEM
After a moment of silence for victims of the Las Vegas shooting, Broadway star Aaron Tveit asked fans to join him in singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Players on both teams remained at attention on the field until the color guard reached the foul line. Yankees pitcher Chasen Shreve, a Las Vegas native, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
UP NEXT
RHP Masahiro Tanana (13-12) is likely to start Thursday for the Yankees against the Indians and Trevor Bauer (17-9).
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New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge (99) celebrates with Gary Sanchez after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning of the American League wild-card baseball game against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning of the American League wild-card baseball game against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge slides past Minnesota Twins third baseman Eduardo Escobar on a single by Gary Sanchez during the seventh inning of the American League wild-card baseball game Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees’ Didi Gregorius, right, celebrates with Gary Sanchez after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of the American League wild-card playoff baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge, left, and Didi Gregorius celebrate at the plate after Judge scored on Gregorius’ first-inning, three-run home run in the American League wild-card playoff baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Minnesota Twins catcher Jason Castro and New York Yankees’ Didi Gregorius watch Gregorius’ first-inning, three-run home run in the American League wild-card playoff baseball game in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Yankees relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle celebrates after retiring the Minnesota Twins in order during the seventh inning of the American League wild-card playoff baseball game in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Minnesota Twins left fielder Eddie Rosario falls at the wall while chasing a two-run home run by New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge during the fourth inning of the American League wild-card baseball game Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Minnesota Twins’ Brian Dozier runs the bases after hitting a home run against the New York Yankees during the first inning of the American League wild-card baseball game Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton watches his ground ball on which a runner was forced and a run scored during the third inning of the American League wild-card baseball game against the New York Yankees, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Ervin Santana waits as New York Yankees’ Brett Gardner (11) runs the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning of the American League wild-card baseball game Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino walks off the field after being removed during the first inning game of the American League wild-card playoff baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. Severino had given up a solo home run and a two-run homer. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
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