The top Yankees victories of the 2010s

Although they didn’t win any World Series titles, the New York Yankees still provided plenty of memorable moments throughout the 2010s. Through it all, they won more games combined than any other team during the decade and some of these wins had significant meaning for both the franchise and fan base.

Yankee fans can reflect on the last decade and reminisce about a certain memory. They can remember exactly where they were, who they were with, and what their reaction was when they witnessed that unforgettable moment that made them jump for joy. No team in sports does it better than the Yankees. Each and every year, they give their fans something to cheer for and follow dedicatedly.

So as the sports world reminds fans of notable moments that had occurred on the current date in the past, I thought it may be appropriate to look back on some of the top victories the Yankees had last decade.

These were chosen by me based on emotion, meaningfulness, and lasting imagery. This is all my opinion, but I feel that many Yankee fans would be able to look back on all of these games with a smile and say how much that impacted them.

10. vs. Chicago Cubs (May 5, 2017 @ Wrigley Field)– On a bright and windy Friday afternoon in Chicago, the Yankees began a three-game interleague series against the defending World Series Champion Cubs. The team was off to a great start and had some young up-and-comers getting a taste of the show for a full season. This was the first true test for these Yankees to see if they could compete against the top teams in the league.

The Yanks played through the tough conditions as best as they could but couldn’t get anything going offensively. Kyle Hendricks, Brian Duensing, and Pedro Strop prevented the Bronx Bombers from sniffing home plate all day long. The Cubs offense wasn’t doing much either, but they did manage to scratch two runs on the board thanks to home runs by Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber.

The Cubs brought this 2-0 lead into the top of the ninth. With Hector Rondon on the mound, the Yankees managed to get two on with two out for Brett Gardner. The veteran Yankee quickly fell into an 0-2 hole. With the team down to their last strike and an anxious Wrigley Field crowd watching intently, Gardner smashed the ball over right field wall for a dramatic two-out, go-ahead home run. A stunned crowd watched a pumped Gardner circle the bases and cross home plate. Just like that, the tide had turned, and the Yankees held on to win 3-2 in the bottom half of the inning.

Analysis: This was a thrilling ending and it showed that the 2017 Yankees were a resilient group of guys who should be taken seriously. The fact that it was done against the defending champs and AT Wrigley Field, makes it that much sweeter. It also led to a three-game sweep for the Yankees.

9. vs. Boston Red Sox (September 28, 2016 @ Yankee Stadium)– This game on paper, was essentially meaningless. The 2016 Yankees’ season was pretty much done at this point. After coming off a disastrous 3-8 road trip that put the final nail in the coffin, the Yankees returned home to play the final six games of the regular season, with the first three coming against their hated rivals. One positive about this series for the Yanks was that it’d be the last time they’d have to deal with David Ortiz in a Sox’ uniform. But other than that, things were looking bleak.

Boston was lined up to win the American League East title and to do it at Yankee Stadium would make it that much sweeter. In this second game of a three-game series, the Yankee offense was a no-show through eight innings. Boston scored three runs in the top of the eighth to jump out in front. In the bottom of the ninth, the scoreboard showed that the Orioles had beaten the Blue Jays, thus making it official that the Sox won the division.

They were all set and ready to jump around the field and celebrate. However, their closer, Craig Kimbrel, was wild. Kimbrel allowed a leadoff single to Brett Gardner and then walked the next three batters, which brought Gardner home and got the Yankees on the board. Red Sox’ skipper John Farrell replaced Kimbrel with Joe Kelly.

Kelly struck out Starlin Castro for the first out, which brought Mark Teixeira to the plate with the game on the line. Teixeira, who was playing the final games of his career, crushed the ball to right-center field. Boston outfielders Jackie Bradley and Mookie Betts chased after the descending ball but to no avail. It landed in the Yankees’ bullpen for a walk-off grand slam. Teixeira trotted around the bases with his arms spread out. The Yankees surrounded home plate and doused him with a well-deserved Gatorade shower. It was the 409th and final home run of Teixeira’s career. The stunned Red Sox quietly and tamely celebrated their division win in the dugout with hugs and high-fives.

Analysis: This was a very enjoyable victory. 2016 was a tough season for the Yankees, and this win was a much needed feel-good moment. The fact that is spoiled Boston’s celebration made it that much better. And what a way for Mark Teixeira to go out. Because it put a damper on Boston’s parade, that’s why it’s on this list.

8. vs. Boston Red Sox (April 21, 2012 @ Fenway Park)– The Centennial Celebration was on full display for Fenway Park over the weekend in Beantown and the Yanks were more than happy to ruin the festivities. On a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon, the Fenway faithful were enjoying the sight of the Red Sox spanking Yankees’ starter Freddy Garcia, to take a cozy and seemingly insurmountable 9-0 lead after five innings.

In the top of the sixth, the Yankees finally got on the board when Mark Teixeira hit a home run over the Green Monster, thus spoiling the hope for a shutout for Red Sox Nation. However, that home run was a wake-up call for the Yankee offense. The Bombers flexed their muscles on their hated rivals’ soil and proceeded to score 14 unanswered runs through the next three innings. Teixeira, again, and Nick Swisher both went yard as a horrified audience of 37,839 watched their Red Sox fall apart. New York wound up taking the game 15-9 to silence the occasion once and for all.

Analysis: Ah, nothing like ripping Boston’s heart out. The only way for something like this to be sweeter is if it took place in the postseason. But hey, at least Boston couldn’t celebrate 100 years of baseball at Fenway with a smile.

7. vs. Baltimore Orioles (October 10, 2012 @ Yankee Stadium)– This was the third game of the tightly-contested, low scoring American League Division Series between the Yankees and the reconstructed Baltimore Orioles. The game was a pitcher’s duel, as both starters were brilliant. Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda went 8 1/3 innings giving up just five hits and two earned runs. Although he lasted longer than his counterpart, Miguel Gonzalez, Kuroda was in line to get the loss, as the Yankees’ bats were ice cold all night long.

Baltimore led 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth, looking to go up 2-1 in the series. Down to their last two outs, Yankee manager Joe Girardi made the gutsy decision to call on veteran outfielder Raul Ibanez to pinch-hit for a severely slumping Alex Rodriguez. Desperate times call for desperate measures and at this point in the postseason, A-Rod simply could not be trusted. Ibanez rewarded Girardi’s decision by hitting a game-tying solo home run to right-centerfield. The Yankee Stadium crowd exploded in jubilation as Ibanez circled the bases and returned to the dugout.

The game remained tied for 2 ½ more innings. In the bottom of the 12th, Ibanez again stepped up to the plate and on a 2-2 pitch, hit a game-winning walk-off home run off of O’s pitcher, Brian Matusz. Yankee Stadium shook from the vibrations of the fans jumping up and down with glee. Ibanez had officially cemented himself as a playoff hero for the Yankees.

Analysis: Incredible! Simply an incredible game and an incredible moment. Staring at defeat, Raul Ibanez singlehandedly brought the Yankees up from the dead to flip the script and give them an emotional victory. The crowd at the stadium that night was passionate and behind on every pitch. To me, those reasons are why this game is on this list.

6. vs. Minnesota Twins (October 3, 2017 @ Yankee Stadium)– The 2017 American League Wild Card Game. It was the biggest game at Yankee Stadium in almost two years. The Yankees had been there once before in 2015, but that didn’t turn out well at all. Looking to play in their first postseason series in five years, the Bombers would send their young hurler Luis Severino to the mound to take out their surprising opponents— the Minnesota Twins, a team which had lost over 100 games the year prior.

Like mosquitoes to a light on a muggy summer night, the Twins swarmed all over Severino. Before the second out of the game was even recorded, the score was 3-0 Minnesota. Manager Joe Girardi made the bold move to take out the flustered starter and go to his bullpen. Chad Green came on in relief of Sevy and struck out the next two batters to finally end the top of the first.

The Yankees wasted no time in answering back against Twins’ starter Ervin Santana. Didi Gregorius hit a game-tying three-run home run in the bottom of the first, electrifying the stadium and shaking it to its very foundation. Brett Gardner and Aaron Judge also went yard and the Yankee bullpen proceeded to throw eight more innings of one-run ball. The Yankees went on to win 8-4, giving them a date with the defending American League Champion Cleveland Indians.

Analysis: It had been a long time since the crowd at Yankee Stadium had been that noisy. This game reminded Yankee fans just how fun and nerve-racking postseason baseball truly is. The Gregorius home run really ignited the stadium, which has been occasionally ridiculed for being too silent. This game showed that the Yankees were back to being a perennial playoff contending team for the foreseeable future.

4. vs. Tampa Bay Rays (July 9, 2011 @ Yankee Stadium)– A bright and sunny summer afternoon at Yankee Stadium was engulfed by a massive amount of hype. This buzz was reserved once again to the man who was the center of attention for the Yankees for two decades— Derek Jeter. Coming into this game, Jeter was at 2,998 career hits. He was just two hits away from joining one of the most elite clubs in all of sports— the 3,000 hit club. Although it was obvious that Jeter was going to join, there was some added pressure on him to do it at Yankee Stadium in front of the hometown fans.

Jeter and the Yankees would be facing southpaw David Price. In his first at-bat of the day, Jeter, who confessed that he had been feeling some pressure, singled to left field for hit number 2,999. The crowd erupted as Jeter sawed the final number off to reach his quest. Jeter came up for the second time in the bottom of the third inning with the Yanks down 1-0. Everyone in the stadium was on their feet, their cameras and phones out, awaiting history to be made. If Jeter was to get his 3,000th hit on this day, he was going to have to earn it. Price gave Jeter everything he had, but Jeter would prove to be one tough customer.

He fouled off several pitches and eventually ran the count full at 3-2. Then, on the eighth pitch of the at-bat, Price threw a curveball down in the strike zone. Jeter’s eyes lit up and swung away sending the ball high in the air to deep left field. Tampa left fielder Matt Joyce chased aimlessly at the descending balls as it landed deep in the left field bleachers for a home run.

Yankee Stadium once again erupted with glee as Jeter rounded the bases. He had become the 28th Major Leaguer to get 3,000 hits, the second man to do it on a home run (the other being Wade Boggs in 1999), and the first Yankee to do so. Jeter was greeted at home plate by his teammates. Jorge Posada was the first to congratulate him and the rest followed suit. Jeter tipped his helmet to the crowd in recognition as he went back into the dugout. Mission accomplished, Jeter had his 3,000th hit in the bag. The only thing that would make the day sweeter is if a victory came along with it.

In his third at-bat in the bottom of the fifth, Jeter laced a double down the left field foul line for his 3,001st career hit. He’d later score the tying run on a single by Curtis Granderson. Jeter came to bat for the fourth time in the bottom of the sixth against a new pitcher, Brandon Gomes. The change of arms did nothing for Tampa as Jeter smacked another single to right field for his fourth hit of the game. The game was tied 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning when Jeter stepped up for the fifth time. Eduardo Nunez was on third base for the Yankees, representing the tying run. To cap everything off on this perfect day, Jeter drove him in with a single up the middle, to give the Yankees a 5-4 lead. In the top of the ninth, Mariano Rivera pitched a clean 1-2-3 inning to give the Yankees the win, wrapping up a perfect day for Jeter.

Analysis: Arguably, the most historical regular season game of the 2010s for the Yankees and what a moment it was to see Derek Jeter hit a home run for hit number 3,000. He was never about the long ball, and his 1,000th and 2,000th career hits were infield singles and were not totally “clean.” That’s what made this that much more enjoyable.

3. vs. Cleveland Indians (October 8, 2017 @ Yankee Stadium)– It was the first ALDS game at Yankee Stadium in five years and for the Yankees, it was do-or-die time. They were taking on the defending American League Champions and had dropped the first two games of the series in Cleveland, the latter of which was a heartbreak. The Yankees blew an 8-3 lead thanks in large part to a botched decision by Joe Girardi to not challenge a hit-by-pitch play that occurred in the bottom of the sixth inning. It led to the Indians pulling to within one run on a Francisco Lindor grand slam. The Tribe tied it all up in the bottom of the eighth on a Jay Bruce home run and won the game in the 13th on a walk-off double by Yan Gomes.

With their backs to the wall, the Yankees’ fate was in the hands of Masahiro Tanaka. With little to no margin for error, Tanaka was locked in. He sliced and diced and confused Indians’ hitters all night long with his pitching. It was a good thing that he was on too because the Yankee offense was doing nothing against Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco. The game had turned into a fierce pitcher’s duel. The Indians had a chance to get on the board in the fourth when with one out, Jason Kipnis tripled to right field on a misplayed ball by Aaron Judge. That brought up the dangerous Jose Ramirez to the plate. Tanaka rose to the challenge however and ended up striking him out both him and Jay Bruce to get out of trouble.

In the top of the sixth with one out and one on, Tanaka faced Lindor, one of the Game 2 heroes for the Indians. Lindor hit a towering fly ball to right field. Aaron Judge retreated to the warning track and camped under it. He took a little leap off of his feet and stretched his arm up in full extension as he caught the ball right over the wall. The crowd erupted as Judge threw the ball back into the infield. Judge had just robbed Lindor of a two-run home run to keep the game scoreless, and it’d remain that way until the bottom of the seventh. Former Yankee Andrew Miller, who had only given up one home run all year to a left-handed batter, was on the mound for Cleveland.

Yankee first baseman Greg Bird, who had missed much of the season with an injury, and most of his career with injuries, crushed a 1-1 pitch deep into the second deck in right field for a home run to finally light up the scoreboard. Yankee Stadium was shaking as a pumped-up Bird rounded the bases and returned to the dugout to be congratulated by his teammates. Although they had the lead, there were still six more outs to go and with the Indians, no lead was safe.

The Yankees relieved Tanaka with David Robertson in the top of the eighth. Robertson retired outfielder Austin Jackson on a fly out for the first out of the inning but then walked Michael Brantley. Not taking any chances this time around, Girardi went to his closer Aroldis Chapman, to get the final five outs. Chapman proceeded to strike out both Yan Gomes and Gio Urshela to end the inning.

The Yankees wasted an opportunity to add some insurance in the bottom of the eighth, which led to a tense top of the ninth. Chapman struck out Lindor for the first out but then allowed back-to-back singles to Kipnis and Ramirez. That brought up Jay Bruce with one out. Bruce had struck out three times against Tanaka and Chapman wasn’t going to let him make contact either. He struck him out swinging for the second out. That brought Carlos Santana, the last hope for Cleveland. Santana made Chapman work and ran the count full to 3-2. But on the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Chapman got him to hit a fly ball to center, which was caught by Aaron Hicks, to end the game. The Yankees had won the game, 1-0, and trailed 2-1 in the best-of-five series.

Analysis: I was at this game in person and it’s my favorite game I’ve ever attended. The intensity and aura surrounding the stadium was indescribable, you had to be there to see it. I was watching my team try and hold off elimination and I sure am glad that I witnessed it. I love these kinds of games and the story behind it was intriguing. It was my first baseball playoff game and it’s something me and 50,000 other Yankee fans will cherish forever. Great game.

2. vs. Houston Astros (October 17, 2017 @ Yankee Stadium)– Down two games to one in the American League Championship Series, the Yankees turned to midseason acquisition Sonny Gray to help them tie the series. Gray would be opposed by Lance McCullers Jr., whose father had pitched for the Yankees in the late 80s and early 90s.

The game was a pitcher’s duel through the first five innings. In the top of the sixth, Gray started to tire and Houston eventually loaded the bases with nobody out. Joe Girardi would bring in David Robertson to face Yankee killer, Carlos Correa. Robertson would strike Correa out swinging but his the next batter, Yuli Gurriel, sliced a double down the left field line that cleared the bases to give Houston a 3-0 lead. 3-0 became 4-0 in the top of the seventh, when Yankee second baseman Starlin Castro, misplayed a groundball, allowing a run to score.

Yankee Stadium grew awfully quiet as things were looking bleaker and bleaker. The Yankees were four runs down and nine outs away from falling behind 3-1 in the series, with their nemesis, Dallas Keuchel, looming in Game 5. However, the tide slowly began to turn beginning in the bottom of the seventh, when Rookie of the Year Aaron Judge, demolished a solo home run to dead-center off of McCullers, to get the Yankees on the board.

Houston manager A.J. Hinch surprisingly went to his bullpen immediately after the blast and the Yankees took full advantage of it. Didi Gregorius followed with an opposite-field triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from Gary Sanchez, to cut the lead in half. The score remained 4-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth. Down to their last six outs, an anxious Yankee Stadium crowd slowly rose to their feet when Todd Frazier led off with a single. Girardi would then pinch-hit Austin Romine with veteran infielder Chase Headley.

Headley would hit the ball into the left-centerfield gap. Frazier made it to third base easily but Headley tripped and fell as he was running to second base. The Astros quickly threw the ball back in the infield as Headley chugged with all his might. Headley dove headfirst into second, just in the knick of time ahead of a tag from Jose Altuve. The Astros challenged the play the replays showed that Headley had indeed made it in safely. Now Yankee Stadium was coming alive. The atmosphere that was found daily at the “House that Ruth Built,” had transferred over across the street.

Brett Gardner drove in Frazier from third with a groundout to cut the lead down to 4-3. In what would be his final appearance in pinstripes and maybe professional baseball in general, Jacoby Ellsbury came into the game to pinch run for Headley at third with Judge at the plate. Judge fought tooth and nail with Houston reliever Ken Giles before he sliced the ball do deep left field. The ball was carrying and descending rapidly as the crowd exploded. The ball caromed off a fan’s hands off the top of the outfield wall. Ellsbury scored and Judge got into second base to tie the game. Yankee Stadium erupted in jubilation as the Astros called for fan interference but to no avail.

Gregorius was now at the plate and he hit a soft single just underneath the glove of Correa to move Judge over to third. That brought up Gary Sanchez, who up to that point in the series had not had a hit. Girardi put the hit-and-run on when Sanchez got ahead 2-0. Didi took off and Sanchez laced the ball into the right-centerfield gap. Judge and Didi both scored and Sanchez wound up at second with a double. Yankee Stadium was in an absolute frenzy. The place shook from the top of the façade to the bottom of the field. It was a hungry monster and it could smell blood in the water. The Yankees had come back from a 4-0 deficit to take the lead 6-4, which is what they’d win by to finish the game.

Analysis: This game was definitely the most electric, thrilling game at Yankee Stadium in the 2010s. The emotion pouring out from the stands was beautiful and this Yankee team never quit no matter what the circumstances were. They had proven they could stand toe-to-toe with the beasts of the American League. Although they came up short, this was such a great game with a lot of heart and desire.

1. vs. Cleveland Indians (October 11, 2017 @ Progressive Field)– Winner-take-all, Game 5 against the defending American League Champions, trying to come back from a 2-0 deficit. That was the scenario the Yankees were facing. To get the job done, they’d have to go up against AL Cy Young Award winner, Corey Kluber, who the Yankees had crushed in Game 2. And just like Game 2, the Yankees struck first when Didi Gregorius launched a solo home run to right field to open the scoring. That took much of the life out of the Cleveland crowd. But Didi wasn’t done there.

In the top of the third, he hit another home run, this time a two-run shot, again to right field to make it 3-0 Yankees. A pin drop could be heard at Progressive Field as Didi rounded the bases and the Yankees joyfully congratulated him when he returned to the dugout. Meanwhile, C.C. Sabathia was dominating his former team but ran into trouble in the bottom of the fifth when he gave up back-to-back RBI singles, to make it 3-2 Yankees.

The Indians’ fans were making some noise now and Joe Girardi eventually came out and relieved Sabathia with David Robertson. With runners on first and second with nobody out, Robertson faced Francisco Lindor. Unlike Game 2 however, Lindor failed to deliver in the clutch, as he grounded into a rally-killing, 6-3 double play to preserve the one-run lead.

The game remained that way for the next several innings. In the top of the ninth, however, Aaron Hicks and Todd Frazier reached base, bringing Brett Gardner to the plate. Facing Cody Allen, Gardner put together a 12-pitch at-bat and eventually lined a single to right field. Hicks scored easily and that should’ve been the only run that scored. However, right fielder Jay Bruce made a terrible throw into the infield. The ball got away from Francisco Lindor and an alert Frazier darted for the plate. The Indians tried to gun him down put Frazier slid in safely ahead of the tag from Roberto Perez. The Yankees now led 5-2 and would go on to win by that score.

Analysis: What a game, what a series, what a moment. It isn’t often that a team falls behind 2-0 in a best-of-five and comes back to win it. The Yankees have done it twice in their history and this one was one of the more surprising victories in their history. Many thought the Indians would easily kick the Yankees to the curb. After all, they had won 22 straight games during the year and were the defending AL champs. However, this resilient bunch of Yankees showed the world that they were no slouch and could play with the best. And to do it in Cleveland, where the Yankees have had some tough postseason memories before, made it that much more special.