The phrase “playoff environment” is overused, particularly in a 162-game common season. However the Dodgers and Yankees on Friday night time exuded such a buzz, even by a tv hundreds of miles away.
The environment was evident even earlier than the sport, throughout Dave Roberts' media scrum with reporters at Yankee Stadium. From Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic:
“It feels just like the postseason,” Roberts mentioned. “Is that this October or what?”
Dodgers vs. Yankees at Yankee Stadium is the type of invoice that makes tv executives drool. The marquee will work properly in Hollywood or on Broadway. This feels completely different. It nonetheless does, and it ought to, mentioned Roberts.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto was at his greatest, throwing seven scoreless innings on an evening when the taxed bullpen wanted a break.
Alden González at ESPN wrote about Yamamoto's speedy enchancment, and the way he rose to the event in an enormous sport:
“He signed the deal he did for a motive — he's an important pitcher,” mentioned Aaron Decide, who produced the Yankees' solely run with a one-out single within the backside of the eleventh. “Along with having elite issues, he has an important command. I believe that's what we actually seen as we speak that we entered the counts of the boat and he didn’t give in on the coronary heart of the plate. He actually lived on the sides and will work any pitch at any time. That curveball, splitter and that good heater that ran as much as 97, 98 tonight. He stored guys off steadiness, and we couldn't put something within the air”.
Yamamoto additionally revels within the expertise. From Juan Toibio at MLB.com:
“I preferred the environment. It was an important stadium,” Yamamoto mentioned by interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. “We knew this matchup was going to get loads of consideration in comparison with the opposite sequence, however like I mentioned, I used to be simply attempting to do what I've performed in different video games.”
Jack Harris on the Los Angeles Occasions wrote: “In a sequence all about star energy, the Japanese pitcher made certain his identify was on the prime of the listing.”
Yamamoto set the inspiration robust, however Friday's sport was determined properly after he left. Teoscar Hernández drove house the primary runs of the sport within the prime of the eleventh with a two-run double, taking the workforce lead with 41 runs batted in.
From Invoice Plunkett on the Orange County Register:
“Tonight felt completely different,” Hernandez mentioned, expressing what a lot of the Dodgers tried to downplay. “I've been in a wild sport and it's somewhat completely different. But it surely felt like a playoff sport as we speak. I like that. I prefer to play in these atmospheres and attempt to proceed and do my greatest.”
