Sports

Stanton, Judge blasts carry Yankees to ALDS win

Published

3 years ago

October 19, 2022

admin

7:29 PM ET

NEW YORK – Houston, here come the Yankees.

Riding off a strong start from lefty Nestor Cortes, the Yankees booked a ticket to the ALCS with a 5-1 victory over the Guardians. The Game 5 victory capped a back-and-forth series where the Yankees faced elimination in Game 4 in Cleveland and the rain delayed multiple contests.

New York now faces off against the Astros in a best-of-seven series that starts in Houston on Wednesday when Justin Verlander and Jameson Taillon go head-to-head in Game 1. During the regular season, the Astros and Yankees finished with the two best records in the American League, respectively, while Houston took five-of-seven games against New York during the regular season.

Giancarlo Stanton put the first runs on the scoreboard in the first inning, hitting a line drive home run on a 87.5 mph cutter from Cleveland starter Aaron Civale over the right field fence, scoring Gleyber Torres and Anthony Rizzo and putting the Yankees on top, 3-0. Civale lasted just one more batter, throwing just 26 pitches and recording a single out before Guardians manager Terry Francona gave him the hook.

Aaron Judge tagged on another run in the second inning, hitting a 81.3 mph curveball from Sam Hentges over the right-center field wall to make the score 4-0. The home run marked Judge’s fourth home-run in a winner-take-all game — the most in major league history – and the 13th homer for the towering slugger in his postseason career, catapulting him past Reggie Jackson and Yogi Berra for the fifth-most home runs in Yankees postseason history.

The Yankees faced a scary moment in the third inning when shortstop Oswaldo Cabrera collided with outfielder Aaron Hicks on a bloop pop-up to left field off the bat of Cleveland outfielder Steven Kwan. Hicks left the game with a left knee injury and underwent an MRI at New York Presbyterian.

Cleveland struck back with their first run of the game later in the third when Cleveland third baseman Jose Ramirez hit a sacrifice fly to center fielder Harrison Bader, scoring Austin Hedges to make the score 4-1. The run proved to be the only offense the Guardians generated in their final game of the season, tallying eight hits while leaving six runners on base and going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

Rizzo tagged on another run for the Yankees in the fifth inning, when he knocked an RBI single to center field off of Guardians reliever James Karinchak to drive in Gleyber Torres, who stole second base to move into scoring position after drawing a walk.

Cortes left the game after the fifth inning after throwing 61 pitches, allowing just three hits, one run, one walk while striking out two batters working off of just four days of rest, last pitching on Friday in Game 2. Throughout the outing, Cortes used a mix of his fastball (54 percent), cutter (26 percent) and slider (16 percent).

The departure of Cortes handed the keys to the Yankees’ fate to the bullpen, which appeared to be the team’s biggest weak spot heading into the postseason. First, Boone called upon Jonathan Loaisiga, who allowed singles to Amed Rosario and Jose Ramirez before getting Oscar Gonzalez, Josh Naylor to ground out before striking out Gabriel Arias to end the sixth inning. Loaisiga returned for another inning finished off the seventh, ending the evening with two innings pitched, allowing three hits allowing no runs or walks while striking out two.

Clay Holmes added to the optimism around the Yankee bullpen, coming into the 8th inning and shutting down the top of the Guardians order in order, striking out Rosario and Gonzalez while inducing a ground out from Ramirez.

Holmes then handed the ball off to Wandy Peralta, who’s become one of Boone’s go-to relievers during the series, pitching in every game against Cleveland. Peralta got Josh Naylor to ground out before allowing a single to Gabriel Arias, striking out Andres Gimenez and allowing a single to Luke Maile. With two runners on, Peralta induced a ground ball to Myles Straw, who grounded in a fielder’s choice and punched New York’s ticket for a matchup against the Astros.

The Yankees and Astros face off in Houston in Game 1 of the ALCS on Wednesday starting at 7:37 p.m.

Sports

Sources: Virginia Tech in early talks with Franklin

Published

5 hours ago

November 15, 2025

admin

Sources: Virginia Tech in early talks with Franklin

Nov 15, 2025, 09:45 AM ET

Former Penn State head coach James Franklin and Virginia Tech are in early stages of talks, with some resolution on his candidacy expected in the coming days, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Virginia Tech is still running a full search, but it’s clear there is mutual interest between the parties, per sources.

Virginia Tech fired coach Brent Pry on Sept. 14, a day after a 45-26 home loss to Old Dominion dropped the Hokies to 0-3 to start the season.

Penn State fired Franklin on Oct. 12 after 12 seasons following three straight losses, culminating with the Nittany Lions dropping their second straight home game when they fell to Northwestern 22-21 in front of a stunned crowd at Happy Valley.

Less than a year removed from an appearance in the College Football Playoff semifinals, Franklin’s program appeared to hit a new low when the Nittany Lions traveled to Los Angeles two weeks prior to that only to lose to UCLA, a team that not only was winless but hadn’t previously held a lead all season.

Earlier in the season, when the three-game losing streak began against Oregon at Happy Valley, Franklin fell to 4-21 at Penn State against AP top-10 opponents, including 1-18 against top-10 Big Ten teams in conference games.

Franklin’s .160 winning percentage against AP top-10 teams is tied for the third-worst record by a coach (minimum 25 games) at a single school since the poll era began in 1936, according to ESPN Research.

Franklin won 104 games and reached double-digit wins six times in 11 seasons at Penn State, including the previous three.

Sports

Oklahoma DE Thomas unlikely to play vs. Bama

Published

5 hours ago

November 15, 2025

admin

Oklahoma DE Thomas unlikely to play vs. Bama

Nov 15, 2025, 08:56 AM ET

Oklahoma defensive end R Mason Thomas is unlikely to play against Alabama on Saturday because of a quad injury.

A final decision on Thomas’ availability isn’t expected until game time, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel, but he is listed as doubtful on the SEC availability report.

Thomas suffered the injury while returning a fumble 71 yards for a touchdown during the Sooners’ Nov. 1 win over Tennessee.

Oklahoma’s best defensive player, Thomas has a team-leading 6.5 sacks this season along with two forced fumbles and the scoop-and-score fumble recovery.

Starting cornerback Gentry Williams is also doubtful to play against the Crimson Tide. He is set to miss a third straight game with a shoulder injury suffered Oct. 18 against South Carolina.

Sports

Sources: Wisconsin turns to freshman QB vs. IU

Published

5 hours ago

November 15, 2025

admin

Sources: Wisconsin turns to freshman QB vs. IU

ESPN News Services

Nov 15, 2025, 08:35 AM ET

Wisconsin will start true freshman quarterback Carter Smith at No. 2 Indiana on Saturday, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel, replacing Danny O’Neil after the sophomore was carted off the field with a right leg injury last week.

O’Neil was injured on a 21-yard keeper during the first quarter of last Saturday’s 13-10 win over then-No. 23 Washington. He had a towel over his head as he was carted to the locker room.

Smith made his season debut following O’Neil’s injury, completing 3 of 12 passes for 8 yards while rushing for 47 yards and a touchdown.

Also available to the Badgers at quarterback is senior Hunter Simmons, who is 48-for-95 for 485 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions this season.

For Indiana, wide receiver Elijah Sarratt is doubtful to play, sources said. Sarratt, who is tied for the Big Ten lead with 10 touchdown receptions, injured his hamstring against Maryland on Nov. 1 and missed the Penn State game last week.

With Indiana having a bye next week, Sarratt is on track to return against Purdue on Nov. 28.

Quarterback issues have hindered Wisconsin all season and throughout coach Luke Fickell’s three-year tenure.

Billy Edwards Jr. was Wisconsin’s first-team quarterback at the start of the season, but he sprained his knee in the second quarter of the Badgers’ opener and has played only one full series since.

Tanner Mordecai missed 3½ games with a broken hand in 2023. Miami transfer Tyler Van Dyke tore his ACL in the third game of the 2024 season.

Wisconsin’s intended season-opening starting quarterback has been available for the entirety of only 11 of the 34 games the Badgers have played since the beginning of the 2023 season. The last time Fickell had his season-opening starting quarterback healthy for a full game was in a 27-13 victory over South Dakota on Sept. 7, 2024.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.