Brett Gardner delivered one of the best at-bats of the series — if not the season — during the 9th inning of Game 5 of the ALDS between the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees on Wednesday.
Gardner worked Indians closer Cody Allen for 12 pitches before delivering a single that helped score two runs and give the Yankees a cushion and some much needed momentum in Game 5.
Gardner was up with two on and two out in a 3-2 game. He fell behind 1-2, worked a full count, and then fouled off five straight pitches before drilling a single to right. Aaron Hicks scored from second. Todd Frazier, who was on first, took advantage of some lazy/poor Indians fielding and was able to advance home after the throw in from right field wasn’t handled cleanly.
Brett Gardner delivers.
On the 12th pitch of the at-bat (!!!), 2 runs score for the Yankees. 5-2 in the 9th https://t.co/D2ZCcKf6Id
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) October 12, 2017
That took a tight 3-2 game and made it 5-2 for the Yankees. Cleveland may have felt that a 3-2 deficit was manageable even against Aroldis Chapman, but 5-2 seemed almost insurmountable.
Here’s a recap of the at-bat from pitch-to-pitch:
Here's that Brett Gardner at-bat in case you want to frame it, @Yankees fans pic.twitter.com/k8NS81xDcY
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) October 12, 2017
Look at this madness. pic.twitter.com/ixPkyixoWL
— Dayn Perry (@daynperry) October 12, 2017
The at-bat from Gardner was so impressive it even had former Red Sox legend David Ortiz praising the rival after the game on FS1.
“The at-bats that Gardy had — there’s just a ton of fight in this club,” manager Joe Girardi said after the game. “A great at-bat by Gardy, a heads-up play by Frazier, and to tack on two runs was really important.”
