GAME 7: at Los Angeles’ The Big A
Jack Flaherty (Yankees) vs. Jordan Lyles (Angels)
Who doesn’t love a Game 7? For all the marbles, the Yankees turned to their Opening
Day starter and Game 3 winner, Flaherty, and the Angels leapt right over Archer, who
struggled in Game 3, for Lyles, who pitched a competitive Game 4 despite the tough
assignment. It was all hands on deck for both teams, though notably for the Yankees,
closer Hader reported tiredness, yet expressed to manager Don Mattingly, “I could give
you a batter or three if need be.” This would wind up a Game 7 to remember. The Yankees
dashed to a first-inning lead, as Marte’s leadoff triple and Bradley’s sacrifice fly
put the Yankees ahead, 1-0. Flaherty would record 14 consecutive outs to begin the game,
until Caratini’s solo homer in the bottom of the fifth tied things up, 1-1. Flaherty,
unfazed, would retire the next 10 batters he faced, that hit the lone blemish in his
first eight innings’ work. The Angels, who turned things over to the bullpen after five
solid innings from Lyles, called again upon Ottavino in the seventh. The right-handed
surrendered a trio of singles, surrounding a pair of outs, to Garcia, Vogelbach and
Marte, with the latter’s hit plating the Yankees’ second run for a 2-1 lead. With every
decision now critical, the Angels called upon Kennedy to wriggle out of a second-and-
third-and-two-outs jam to conclude that frame, and, entering the bottom of the ninth,
the Yankees were faced with the age-old question of whether to stick with the brilliant
starter in Flaherty or turn things over to a bullpen whose closer entered fatigued?
Flaherty, at 100 pitches and set to face the top of the Angels’ order, was handed the
ball and asked to go the distance. Pederson grounded out to short and Mancini struck
out, bringing to the plate the dangerous Bryan Reynolds. Mattingly, having decided that
Flaherty had done his job and that he had better matchups in hand, summoned Rafael
Montero. Four pitches later, Reynolds had struck out and the Yankees advanced to the
American League Championship Series, on the heels of a 2-1 win.
Final: YANKEES 2, ANGELS 1
W: Flaherty (2-0). L: Ottavino (0-2). SV: Montero (1). HR: Caratini (2).
MVP: It’s not hyperbole to say that there were a lot of compelling candidates, in a
series in which 10 different players hit multiple home runs. Considering that fact,
though, it’s remarkable to think that a pair of pitchers, one from each side, pitched
absolutely brilliantly. Jack Flaherty was the clear choice, having won both of his
starts, including in the critical Game 7 in which he pitched 8 2/3 innings of one-hit
baseball.
Many thanks to Dan McBride for the Netplay and to Dan and his Los Angeles Angels for
a memorable, exciting series! Dan’s Angels were a solid, well-rounded team, with a lot
of good young players that should keep him competitive for awhile. We both remarked how
close this series was. It sure felt like a coin-flip play in either direction at several
different points could’ve swung the results in either direction. The final four games
especially were some of the most competitive I’ve played. Thanks again Dan!
The Yankees now await the winner of the Indians-White Sox Division Series. Good luck
to both teams!
-- Tristan Cockcroft
10/18/2020, NYY20-LAA20, the Big A
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2020 Yankees 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 8 0 7 0
2020 Angels 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 0
Yankees AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB
Marte,K ss 4 1 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .483 0 3 0 0
Bradley,J cf 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .188 3 0 0 0
Flores ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 3 0 0 0
Santana,Da rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .207 1 0 0 0
Smith,Do lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .077 1 0 0 0
Seager,K 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 1 0 0 0
Garcia,Av dh 4 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .385 0 0 0 0
Odor 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .043 0 3 0 0
Vogelbach 1b 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 4 0 0 0
Buxton cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 1 0 0 0
Wieters c 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 13 0 0 0
Flaherty,J p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 0 0
Montero p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
34 2 8 2 2 1 0 1 9 1 0 0 0 0 1 27 7 0 0
Angels AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB
Pederson cf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 2 0 0 0
Mancini dh 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .207 0 0 0 0
Reynolds,B lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235 0 0 0 0
Meadows rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .192 5 0 0 0
Osuna,J 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .071 0 1 0 0
Moustakas 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .136 2 2 0 0
Abreu,J 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 6 2 1 0
Caratini c 3 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .353 10 0 0 0
Iglesias,J ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235 0 1 0 0
Lyles p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0
Anderson,Ch p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Ottavino p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Kennedy p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Greene p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0
28 1 1 1 0 0 1 2 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 6 1 0
Yankees INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA
Flaherty,J W 2-0 8.2 1 1 1 2 12 109 73 29 1 0 0 0 0 1.69
Montero S 1 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 4 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
9.0 1 1 1 2 13 113 76 30 1 0 0 0 0
Angels INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA
Lyles 5.0 3 1 1 0 5 66 47 18 0 0 0 0 0 5.00
Anderson,Ch 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 17 11 5 0 0 0 0 0 3.18
Ottavino L 0-2 0.2 3 1 1 0 1 21 12 5 0 0 0 0 0 8.10
Kennedy 1.1 0 0 0 0 1 14 10 4 0 0 0 0 0 3.86
Greene 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 12 8 4 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
9.0 8 2 2 1 9 130 88 36 0 0 0 0 0
NYY: Flores batted for Bradley,J in the 7th
Flores moved to 1b in the 7th
Buxton inserted at cf in the 7th
GWRBI: Marte,K
Temperature: 69, Sky: partly cloudy, Wind: right to left at 4 MPH.
10/18/2020, NYY20-LAA20, the Big A
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2020 Yankees 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 8 0 7 0
2020 Angels 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 0
Yankees -----A------ -----B------ -----C------ -----D------ -----E------
Marte,K ss 1>T S.2-3 6>note 1 S.2-H;1-3
D
Bradley,J cf 9/SF.3-H k 43.2-3 Kennedy
SB2
Flores ph 9
Santana,Da rf 31 k k 8>3/fl
Smith,Do lf 63 4>9 W 4
Seager,K 3b 2>8 2/fl 9 k
Garcia,Av dh 53 k 7>Ottavino 9>Greene
S D
Odor 2b k 5>k k k
Vogelbach 1b 3>e3/fl 9 S.1-2
S
Buxton cf 3
Wieters c 43.1-2 4 8 31
1: Anderson,Ch
Angels -----A------ -----B------ -----C------ -----D------ -----E------
Pederson cf 1>k W 6>k 9>63
Mancini dh k k 8 k
Reynolds,B lf W 4>k k Montero
k
Meadows rf 8 9 7>63
Osuna,J 3b 2>43 8 k
Moustakas 2b 43 5>63 8
Abreu,J 1b 13 5 8>k
Caratini c 3>k HR 43
Iglesias,J ss k 7 k
Yankees IN OUT ER Angels IN OUT ER
Flaherty,J A1 D2 1 W 2-0 Lyles A1 B9 1
Montero D3 D3 0 S 1 Anderson,Ch C1 C5 0
Ottavino C6 D1 1 L 0-2
Kennedy D2 D5 0
Greene D6 D9 0
10/18/2020, NYY20-LAA20, the Big A
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2020 Yankees 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 8 0 7 0
2020 Angels 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 0
Score O Rnr BS Event
----- - --- -- -----
************** Top of the 1st inning, Yankees batting
0-0 0 --- 10 Marte,K lined a triple down the right field line (BX)
0-0 0 --3 12 Bradley,J hit a sacrifice fly to right, Marte,K scored
(BSFX)
1-0 1 --- 21 Santana,Da grounded out to first (BBSX)
1-0 2 --- 22 Smith,Do grounded out to short (CCBBFFX)
************** Bottom of the 1st inning, Angels batting
1-0 0 --- 12 Pederson struck out (FSBS)
1-0 1 --- 32 Mancini struck out (BBSBCS)
1-0 2 --- 32 Reynolds,B walked (BBCBSFB)
1-0 2 1-- 01 Meadows flied out to center (FX)
************** Top of the 2nd inning, Yankees batting
1-0 0 --- 32 Seager,K flied out to center (CBBBFX)
1-0 1 --- 01 Garcia,Av grounded out to third (CX)
1-0 2 --- 12 Odor struck out (FBSS)
************** Bottom of the 2nd inning, Angels batting
1-0 0 --- 00 Osuna,J grounded out to second (X)
1-0 1 --- 00 Moustakas grounded out to second (X)
1-0 2 --- 00 Abreu,J grounded out to the mound (X)
************** Top of the 3rd inning, Yankees batting
1-0 0 --- 01 Vogelbach continues to bat after the first baseman
Abreu,J dropped a foul popup for an error (CXF)
1-0 0 --- 12 Vogelbach lined a single to shallow right (CXF.BX)
1-0 0 1-- 01 Wieters grounded out to second, Vogelbach to second (CX)
1-0 1 -2- 11 Marte,K grounded a single up the middle, Vogelbach to
third (BCX)
1-0 1 1-3 02 Bradley,J struck out (CSS)
1-0 2 1-3 12 Santana,Da struck out (BSFS)
************** Bottom of the 3rd inning, Angels batting
1-0 0 --- 12 Caratini struck out (BCCS)
1-0 1 --- 02 Iglesias,J struck out (CCFS)
1-0 2 --- 31 Pederson walked (BCBBB)
1-0 2 1-- 12 Mancini struck out (FBSS)
************** Top of the 4th inning, Yankees batting
1-0 0 --- 00 Smith,Do lined out to right (X)
1-0 1 --- 11 Seager,K popped out to the catcher (BCX)
1-0 2 --- 12 Garcia,Av struck out (SSFBC)
************** Bottom of the 4th inning, Angels batting
1-0 0 --- 12 Reynolds,B struck out (BFSS)
1-0 1 --- 10 Meadows flied out to right (BX)
1-0 2 --- 10 Osuna,J flied out to center (BX)
************** Top of the 5th inning, Yankees batting
1-0 0 --- 12 Odor struck out (CBSC)
1-0 1 --- 21 Vogelbach flied out to right (CBBX)
1-0 2 --- 11 Wieters popped out to second (FBX)
************** Bottom of the 5th inning, Angels batting
1-0 0 --- 11 Moustakas grounded out to short (BSX)
1-0 1 --- 01 Abreu,J popped out to third (FX)
1-0 2 --- 12 Caratini homered deep to right (SSBFX)
1-1 2 --- 02 Iglesias,J lined out to left (FCX)
************** Top of the 6th inning, Yankees batting
Anderson,Ch now pitching
1-1 0 --- 12 Marte,K lined a double to left center (BSSX)
1-1 0 -2- 01 Bradley,J grounded out to second, Marte,K to third (CX)
1-1 1 --3 02 Santana,Da struck out (CSS)
1-1 2 --3 32 Smith,Do walked (BSBFBB)
1-1 2 1-3 10 Seager,K flied out to right (BX)
************** Bottom of the 6th inning, Angels batting
1-1 0 --- 22 Pederson struck out (CBBCS)
1-1 1 --- 22 Mancini flied out to center (BFFBX)
1-1 2 --- 22 Reynolds,B struck out (BFBCC)
************** Top of the 7th inning, Yankees batting
Ottavino now pitching
1-1 0 --- 32 Garcia,Av lined a single to shallow center (BCBBCX)
1-1 0 1-- 32 Odor struck out (BFBSFBC)
1-1 1 1-- 10 Vogelbach lined a single to shallow center, Garcia,Av to
second (BX)
1-1 1 12- 11 Wieters lined out to center (BCX)
1-1 2 12- 11 Marte,K singled to left center, Garcia,Av scored,
Vogelbach to third (BCX)
Kennedy now pitching
2-1 2 1-3 00 Marte,K stole second (>C)
Flores pinch hitting for Bradley,J, entered with a 0-1
count on Bradley,J
2-1 2 -23 11 Flores flied out to right (>C.BX)
************** Bottom of the 7th inning, Angels batting
Flores moved to first base
Buxton now playing center field
2-1 0 --- 00 Meadows grounded out to short (X)
2-1 1 --- 12 Osuna,J struck out (CFBS)
2-1 2 --- 31 Moustakas flied out to center (BSBBX)
************** Top of the 8th inning, Yankees batting
2-1 0 --- 22 Santana,Da popped out to first (BCSFBX)
2-1 1 --- 00 Smith,Do popped out to second (X)
2-1 2 --- 12 Seager,K struck out (BSCS)
************** Bottom of the 8th inning, Angels batting
2-1 0 --- 12 Abreu,J struck out (FBFS)
2-1 1 --- 12 Caratini grounded out to second (BFSFFX)
2-1 2 --- 22 Iglesias,J struck out (CCBBS)
************** Top of the 9th inning, Yankees batting
Greene now pitching
2-1 0 --- 00 Garcia,Av lined a double to right center (X)
2-1 0 -2- 22 Odor struck out (BbBFSC)
2-1 1 -2- 22 Buxton popped out to first (BBCFX)
2-1 2 -2- 00 Wieters grounded out to first (X)
************** Bottom of the 9th inning, Angels batting
2-1 0 --- 12 Pederson grounded out to short (CSBX)
2-1 1 --- 22 Mancini struck out (BCBCC)
Montero now pitching
2-1 2 --- 12 Reynolds,B struck out (CBFS)