Yankees ALCS Game 2 report card; whose to blame?

The lineup

The lineup was the clear culprit in this loss. Although Paxton was off — although Aaron Boone pulled Green — although Ottavino gave up a home run — and although LeMahieu was thrown out at home plate, the Yankees knocked out Justin Verlander with the score 2-2 in the seventh inning.

When drawing up a strategy to beat Verlander at Minute Maid Park, it’s not reasonable to assume that you’ll be able to tattoo a plethora of mistakes for double-digit runs. You hope to build up his pitch count and knock him out early with the game close and that is precisely what transpired.

After LeMaheiu was thrown out to end the sixth inning, the Yankees did not collect a hit until Brett Gardner’s two-out single in the 11th inning. Edwin Encarnacion, Gardner, Sanchez, Gio Urshela and Didi Gregorius combined to go 2-for-22 with nine strikeouts.

Meanwhile, the Houston ‘pen, perceived by many to be the team’s Achilles Heel, collected 13 outs and allowed just one hit.

Though there weren’t many actual “scoring chances,” the Yanks nonetheless had the Astros right where they wanted them and failed to capitalize. The ‘pen kept them in the game by pitching 7.2 brilliant innings of relief. The offense fell asleep and that’s what prevented a 2-0 series lead.