It was a poetic showdown, perhaps inevitable in this clash of American League East titans who had made no secret of their mutual dislike. Aroldis Chapman on the mound and Mike Brosseau at the plate, reprising their roles from a tense Sept. 1 incident a coast away.
Chapman had buzzed Brosseau with a 101 mph fastball that night, and revenge came on an even greater stage on Friday, as Chapman served up a go-ahead eighth-inning homer. The Yankees’ season ended with a 2-1 loss to the Rays in Game 5 of the American League Division Series at Petco Park.
Heartbreaking end to our 2020 run. It was a season full of unknowns and new challenges. Though it did not end the way we wanted, we're beyond grateful for the support our fans showed us along the way; and we hope to see your faces again soon. pic.twitter.com/ucMgHfk4I2
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 10, 2020
Chapman is the first pitcher in MLB history to allow a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning or later of multiple postseason games with his team facing elimination.
Brosseau’s blast came on a 100.2 mph fastball, the 10th pitch of the at-bat against Chapman, who was summoned from the bullpen in hopes of recording seven outs. He’d only get four, following Gerrit Cole’s 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball and 1 1/3 scoreless frames from Zack Britton.
On the 10th pitch of the at-bat … @mikebrosseau10 delivers! ? pic.twitter.com/STyQuOuKj0
— MLB (@MLB) October 10, 2020
Aaron Judge’s fourth-inning homer off Nick Anderson produced the Yankees’ only offense of the night in a contest defined by strikeouts and timely homers. The final out came as Gio Urshela scorched a liner that was snared by third baseman Joey Wendle.
I'll be up up and away, up up and away. #AllRise pic.twitter.com/KgPOzqMY3M
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 10, 2020
Austin Meadows’ fifth-inning homer was the lone blemish on Cole’s pitching line, coming as Judge bumped his head against an overhang above an auxiliary scoreboard.
Aaron Judge hit his head when he tried to rob that home run from Austin Meadows. #Yankees #Rays #Postseason https://t.co/hGhysz2F6z
— Bronx Bombers News (@NewsBronx) October 10, 2020
Demanding the ball after a winning effort in Game 1 of the ALDS, Cole escaped a bumpy first inning unscathed, issuing a pair of walks and drilling Randy Arozarena before striking out Wendle to leave the bases loaded.
That started a string of eight consecutive outs recorded by Cole, who did not allow a hit until Meadows’ homer with two outs in the fifth.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].