Yankees emerge with wild card after another nail-biter in Game 162
The Yankees' Aaron Judge acknowledges fans after his wild-card clinching single against the Rays at Yankee Stadium on Oct. 3. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Sure, this season didn’t go as planned. And far too often, the lows seemed to outpace the highs in the Bronx. But on a day the Yankees really needed it, they got what they wanted: an almost flawless Sunday afternoon at the Stadium.
With a wild-card berth at stake against a Rays team that always makes these things feel personal, Game No. 162 followed the blueprint the Yankees drew up — from the oft-maligned Aaron Boone pulling the right bullpen strings to Aaron Judge delivering the first walk-off hit of his career, then getting mobbed by his teammates as the crowd of 40,409 roared above Sinatra’s post-victory croon.
That’s not to say this 1-0 win was a smooth ride to Tuesday’s wild-card matchup with the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Hardly. Every inning was stuffed with anxiety, each pitch an occasion to hold their breath, all the while sneaking a peek at the out-of-town scoreboard.
But nothing was easy this year for the 2021 Yankees, so it was only fitting that the season finale was that way, too.
The difference this time? Beating the Rays, after getting thumped by them on Saturday, provided a degree of satisfaction — albeit temporary — that eluded the Yankees for the previous six months.
Finally, amid the champagne spray in the clubhouse, they could soak in the sensation of being in the playoffs, a summit that many (myself included) said would be unreachable when they were a disjointed mess on July 4. Instead, the Yankees seized their fifth straight playoff appearance and 23rd in the past 27 years.
"It hasn’t always been perfect," Boone said. "But we’re ready to take our shot and feel like we can beat anyone when we’re at our best."
It wouldn’t be entirely accurate to suggest the Yankees were at their Sunday "best." Through eight innings, including five against Michael Wacha, they had a total of one single without a runner getting to second base. Any other day this season, that’s a losing formula.
But here’s what separated Game 162 from that pile and got the bat into Judge’s hands with everything on the line — the fortitude of first-year Yankee Jameson Taillon. He pitched on turn despite leaving Tuesday’s start with an ankle injury and somehow got Boone one out deep into the fourth inning without surrendering a run.
On the surface, that doesn’t look like much. But for this manager, who’s come under fire lately for his curious bullpen usage, Taillon’s 10 outs paved the way for the rest of the relief plan.
The Rays got a runner to third with less than two outs in the third and eighth, but Taillon and Jonathan Loaisiga escaped.
Wandy Peralta got out of a second-and-third jam in that fourth inning, thanks to Gleyber Torres’ diving play.
With Boone deploying his high-leverage package, five relievers held Tampa Bay to two hits in the last five innings. You’d be hard-pressed to find another game this season that Boone managed so cleanly, or one in which the bullpen executed this precisely, right down to Aroldis Chapman whiffing pinch hitter Manuel Margot with the go-ahead run threatening at second base.
"I was prepared for anything with Jame-O," Boone said. "What he gave us, then you could roll everyone and not overtax anyone. But they all have to do their jobs, too."
As those zeros piled up, the Yankees had to like their chances. They were extremely fortunate when Gio Urshela emerged with nothing more serious than a few bruises and a slight limp after barreling full-speed down the stairs into the Rays’ dugout to grab Austin Meadows’ pop foul that ended the sixth inning.
It took close to 10 minutes for Urshela to appear again, and the fans welcomed him back with raucous "Gi-o!" chants.
"Thank God I didn’t hit my head or anything like that," Urshela said. "When I opened my eyes, I saw my glove and the ball inside it."
It was that kind of day. Right up to the ninth, when Rougned Odor, starting for the injured DJ LeMahieu, led off by slapping a single to center. He was replaced by the speedy Tyler Wade, who wound up 90 feet from the plate as Judge stepped in to hit.
With the building "M-V-P!" chorus, Judge smoked a two-strike pitch for a 105-mph liner that kicked off the glove of reliever Andrew Kittredge, with the ball rolling just long enough that Wade was able to dash home, sliding headfirst to beat Brandon Lowe’s dart throw.
For Judge, it was his eighth go-ahead or tying hit in the eighth inning or later, tied for the most in MLB (his 12 RBIs in those situations are tops in the sport).
"When you grind out 162 games and get this opportunity to continue playing into October, it’s something special," Judge said. "You never want to take it for granted."
The grind never stopped this season. And the Yankees are thrilled it will continue.
David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.
