The Yanks (99-63) wrapped up their 2022 regular season with a four-game set against the Rangers (68-94) in Arlington.
The Bombers didn’t have much to play for as they were locked into the #2 AL seed regardless of the outcome. The big storyline was Aaron Judge and if he could break Roger Maris’ single season AL Homerun record… He cut it close, but in the first inning on Game 161, he would hit a solo homer off Jesus Tinoco for his 62nd homer of the season, breaking Maris’ record.
Game 1: 3-1 Yankees
Yankees SP Louis Severino pitched 7, no hit, innings before being pulled by manager Aaron Boone.
The game was 0-0 until the 5th inning when Kyle Higashioka would hit an RBI single to score Aaron Hicks, making it 1-0 Yanks.
The score would remain the same until the 8th when Marwin Gonzalez would hit his 6th homer of the season (a solo shot) to make it 2-0 Yanks. Just two batters later, Giancarlo Stanton would hit a solo homer of his own (#30) to bring the score to 3-0.
Miguel Castro would replace Louis Severino to start the bottom of the 8th inning and would lose the combined no-no and would also surrender a run making the score 3-1.
Scott Effross would be tasked with closing the game out and he would succeed, pitching a 1,2,3 9th inning.
Game 2: 5-4 Yankees (Game 1 Doubleheader)
The game scoring started quickly, Yanks would score one in the first and one in the second. Meanwhile, the Rangers would score two of their own in the bottom of the first.
The score would stay 2-2 until the 5th inning. The Yanks would add on a run in the top half, but Texas would counter with two of their own in the bottom half.
Texas would take a 4-3 lead into the 8th when the Yanks would score the go-ahead two runs and walk away with a 5-4 win.
Game 3: 3-2 Rangers (Game 2 Doubleheader)
The Yanks may have lost the game, but it was a historical night for the franchise. As we talked about earlier, Aaron Judge would hit his 62nd homer in the first inning. But we would also witness another record be broken in this game… Gerrit Cole would pass Ron Guidry for the most strikeouts in a single season in Yankee history (249).
Ironically enough, Cole would actually take the loss in this game after he would give up the go-ahead 2run homer to Leody Taveras in the 5th inning. The Yanks would fall 3-2.
Game 4: 4-2 Rangers
The Yanks started the scoring in the 2nd inning with a Kyle Higashioka RBI single.
Texas would answer back with a solo homer in the 3rd inning to tie the game at 1-1.
New York would jump back in front in the 4th off of a Jose Trevino solo homer, giving the Yanks a 2-1 lead. But Texas would counter with a solo homer of their own in the bottom half of the 4th to tie the game at 2.
Then would score the go-ahead 2 runs in the 5th inning and secure the 4-2 win.
The Yanks will now wait and see who their opponent will be for the ALDS, with them slated to face the winner of the Tampa Bay Rays/Cleveland Guardians Wild Card matchup.
Game 1 of the ALDS is scheduled for Tuesday, October 11th, and will be played at Yankee Stadium. – Jason Harris