Frazier and Judge homer to back another solid postseason outing from Sabathia

The American League Championship Series shifted to Yankee Stadium Monday with New York looking at another two-game series hole. The Yankees were so close to taking the first two games but dropped both by identical scores of 2-1. Like many previous times this season, veteran left-hander CC Sabathia took the mound following a Yankees loss. And like so many times before, Sabathia pitched brilliantly following a Yankees loss.

Sabathia surrendered just three hits through six scoreless innings. He struck out five and walked four, earning the win.

Including the postseason, Sabathia is 10-0 with a 1.69 ERA in 13 starts following a Yankee loss this season. In seven career postseason starts at the new Yankee Stadium, Sabathia has a 161 ERA.

The Yankees took the lead in the bottom of the second. With two-on and two outs, third baseman Todd Frazier drove a Charlie Morton pitch over the right field wall, giving New York a three run lead. It was Frazier’s first career postseason home run.

With Sabathia keeping the Astros lineup off balance and off the scoreboard, the only question was how long Girardi would let the big man go before turning the game over to the bullpen. That question become a bit less urgent in the fourth inning.

The Yankees scored five runs in the fourth, three coming off the bat of Aaron Judge. Having struggled all postseason, swinging at breaking pitches low and away, Judge finally got a fastball to hit, and hit it he did. Judge drove the ball over the left-center field wall for the Yankees second three run home run of the night. Judge’s homer came off Astros reliever Will Harris.

That was all the scoring the Yankees needed as Sabathia continued his playoff dominance on the mound. Girardi turned it over to the bullpen in the seventh and Adam Warren pitched two scoreless frames. Dellin Betances came on in the ninth but after walking two batters, Girardi lifted him for Tommy Kahnle who finished the game. The Astros scored one run in the ninth off Kahnle, but the run was charged to Betances as it was his runner.

The Astros did not have an extra base hit on Monday. They only have three in the series, all coming in Game 2 on Saturday.

The Yankees, who struck out 10 or more times in each of the first two games, lowered that number to six on Monday.

New York will now try to even the series Tuesday afternoon. Sonny Gray will take the mound for the Yankees against Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00pm EST.