Welp. As the Monty Python troupe said "And now for something completely different". The most dominant team regular season team in the 162-game era were utterly and totally dominated in Game 1 of the ALCS by the Yankees to the tune of 9-0. Now it was a scoreless game until the 6th when Joe Allen homered off Christian Little, and even after Vidal Brujan singled in run #2 in his return to the Trop it was still a game. Little was just fine, whiffing a team playoff record 15 and tying the AL playoff record. But the bullpen imploded in a 6-run 8th to make it a laugher, although in the end it didn't matter as the offense which could score at will all year was completely shut down by Dave Falco. Yes, Dave Falco and his 4.79 ERA. After Ricky Widmar singled to lead off the game for the Rays, they didn't manage another hit (or baserunner) until Keibert Ruiz singled with one out in the 6th and the only managed 5 hits for the game. Meanwhile, Brujan added an insult to injury 3-run HR off Jack Filby in the 6-run 8th and the Rays suddenly find themselves in a near-must-win game tomorrow at the Trop. I'm looking at Shane McClanahan to save us from an 0-2 hole tomorrow.
In the other ALDS, the Rangers grabbed a 1-0 lead over Detroit thanks to Alex McKenna, a 31-year-old rookie who had 7 AB in the regular season who had a 3-run HR off Kumar Rocker and an RBI single. Wander Franco was 0-5 in his Texas playoff debut:
And in the "oh, that's nice but we're in full-blown crisis mode right now" department:
