Pop The Bottles The Yankees Are Going To The Playoffs

This was step one.

Rich Hill’s remarkable September didn’t quite carry over to October, but the left-hander has nothing to feel bad about after the Red Sox dropped a 4-1 decision to the Yankees on Thursday. He struck out 30.

Anderson (10-9) fired 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball.

The first game of the season-ending three-game series between Baltimore and New York Yankees was postponed.

Robbie Ross Jr. would go on to pitch the bottom half of the eleventh and was able to get three outs in three at-bats.

Beltran’s homer was the first run of the inning.

Third baseman Brendan Ryan added an RBI single, five batters after Beltran sent a full count fastball into the right field seats.

Alex Rodriguez talked about if he expected to be popping champagne at this point, when he was at the beginning of the season, he said, “I always believed there something about wearing this uniform that gives you a tremendous amount of confidence”. He slid in safely and boom, a 2-0 lead in the second. I think if you look at the overall body of work, there was a lot to build off of from there.

The 35-year-old ended the night with two runs on four hits with six strikeouts and three walks, giving his team a solid chance to catch up.

The Yankees (87-72) are back in the playoffs for the first time since they won 95 games and their last AL East title.

The pitching line isn’t anything special – 5 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K – but throw that out the window. Chen (LHP) will be on the hill against the Yankees, who have a 26-22 record against left-handed starting pitchers.

The Red Sox scored their only run in the fifth inning when Mookie Betts, coming off his two homerun performance, singled scoring Deven Marrero from second. Bravo, CC. You’re still a BAMF. But Sabathia’s knee, aided by a brace, has held up and, in turn, he has pitched well. Adam friggin’ Warren, that’s how.

Hill was outstanding again Friday, tossing a two-hitter in a 7-0 win over Baltimore for his second career shutout – first since 2006 with the Chicago Cubs.

“Me and Blake, yesterday, we got to eat, and had (a piece of pizza) left and he said the night before, he had given it to a homeless guy and he hit two home runs”, Betts said. I know this year was different. Chris Young camped under it at the warning track.

A one-run lead in the late innings is hardly comfortable. Thankfully, the Yankees tacked on a few insurance runs.

Rob Refsnyder, who looks like a certainty for the playoff roster and likely will start against left-handers, nailed his second homer of the year with a solo shot in the eighth. Pretty good game for the kids, eh?

Boston’s offense got on base, but it was touching home plate they had a problem with in the 4-1 loss.

ATLANTA – Stephen Strasburg pitched six scoreless innings in his final start of the season, helping Washington beat Atlanta.

Astros (84-75) at Diamondbacks (78-81), 9:40 p.m.: With the Angels and Rangers squaring off in Arlington, the Astros travel to Arizona to finish the regular season with a three-game series against the D-backs.

It was the first multihomer game for Swihart, who entered with three long balls this season.