Three inter-division matchups and a back-and-forth affair made for four great games in the kickoff of the Division Series. Three of the four games featured comeback victories and only one road team was able to get the win. Here’s everything you missed from yesterday’s MLB Division Series action.
New York Mets 6, Philadelphia Phillies 2: Kyle Schwarber sent Citizens Bank Park into a frenzy when he hit a leadoff home run off of the returning Kodai Senga. However, outside of that, the Phillies did not get much done. Fortunately for them, the Mets had no answer for Zack Wheeler. He went seven innings, allowing no runs and striking out nine. The Phillies turned to both All-Star Jeff Hoffman and Matt Strahm in the eighth inning, but the Mets tagged them for a combined five runs in the eighth inning with Brandon Nimmo knocking in the go-ahead run. The Mets magic continues as they steal Game 1 in Philadelphia.
New York Yankees 6, Kansas City Royals 5: In a game where the replay system was a point of controversy, the Yankees picked up a come-from-behind victory. The Royals took an early 1-0 lead, but the Yankees responded quickly. In back-and-forth fashion, the game was tied heading into the seventh inning. In the bottom of tMLBhe inning, Jazz Chisholm Jr. stole second base off of an Anthony Volpe strikeout. The play was reviewed after a Royals challenge, but surprisingly upheld. Chisholm came around to score as the go-ahead and winning run. The key Yankee contributor yesterday was Alex Verdugo, who seems to have put his regular season struggles behind him as he went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.
Los Angeles Dodgers 7, San Diego Padres 5: Just like his first start of the season, Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed five earned runs to the Padres. Manny Machado hit a two-run homer in the first inning to give the Padres a three-run lead. However, Shohei Ohtani had his first October moment as he tied the game up with a three-run home run in the very next inning. The Padres regained the lead in the top of the third thanks to a two RBI Bogaerts double, but the Dodgers put up three runs in the bottom of the fourth to go in front for the first time in the game. Yamamoto exited after three innings of work and the Dodgers bullpen was nails from then on. Five pitchers combined for seven strikeouts and just two hits allowed. Blake Treinen came in during the eighth inning and finished the game. He was credited with a save.
Cleveland Guardians 7, Detroit Tigers 0: The Guardians came out of the gates swinging. Steven Kwan barely missed a leadoff home run, but he came around to score as part of a five-run first inning. A Lane Thomas three-run home run set the tone early. The Guardians scored seven runs on seven hits and the staff pitched a shutout. Tanner Bibee picked up six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. With a seven-run lead, Emmanuel Clase shut the door in the ninth inning to put the Guardians up 1-0 in the series.
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Photo Credits: Brandon Nimmo #9 of the New York Mets celebrates a rbi single against the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning in Game One of the Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 05, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Heather Barry/Getty Images)
