Giancarlo Stanton’s grand slam overshadows Aaron Boone’s excellent managing in ALDS Game 1 win

The Yankees have a 1-0 lead over the Rays in the ALDS.

This was a tight game throughout. It seemed as if a change of scenery to across the country wouldn’t alter the nature of a classic New York Yankees-Tampa Bay Rays matchup, but then came the ninth inning.

After these teams traded home runs and rips into the gap, the Yankees decided enough was enough in the final frame. With a 4-3 lead, New York needed an insurance run to feel safe before going to Aroldis Chapman in the bottom half of the ninth.

They got that and way more after batting around the order against the Rays bullpen.

An Aaron Hicks RBI single to make it 5-3. Then Giancarlo Stanton came up to bat after Tyler Wade loaded the bases with a walk and took a hanger to deep center on a 2-2 count. He knew it right off the bat. That made it 9-3, resulting in a decisive Yankees victory.

What a moment for Stanton, who now has three home runs in the Yankees’ three postseason games this year. He only went 1-for-4 on the night, but this one swing did it all for the Bombers.

However, we can’t let this shining moment have us overlook the tremendous managing by Aaron Boone yet again. Three things stand out immediately:

1. Starting Clint Frazier over Brett Gardner
2. Continuing to start Kyle Higashioka over Gary Sanchez when Gerrit Cole pitches
3. Bringing in Tyler Wade as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning

It was Frazier’s first career postseason start and he homered in his first at-bat against Blake Snell to make it 2-1. He was later taken out of the game in favor of Gardner when the Rays went to the bullpen and brought in right-handers, but Frazier’s home run helped open the floodgates for the three others to come.

Higgy over Gary continues to be emphasized, regardless of how Gary performs in the games he starts. Higashioka hit a game-tying home run in the fifth inning to deflate the Rays a bit after Ji-Man Choi’s go-ahead two-run blast off Cole in the fourth.

Not only that, but he made two incredible defensive plays that saved runs or prevented runners from advancing. This was a one-run game for an overwhelming majority of the night, and that defense was a big reason why. And finally, he scored on this Hicks single, and we’d venture to say there’s no chance Sanchez would have been able to.

As for Wade, his defense in the eighth inning proved to be crucial. Two balls came his way and he got both outs, including an impressive one where he track down a grounder to his left and made a spot-on throw to Gleyber Torres at second base to get the lead runner. The Yankees never even needed Luke Voit to come up to bat after Boone took him out to make this move.

This 9-3 win is in the books and the Yankees have a much-needed lead over the Rays. Deivi Garcia will be getting the ball in Game 2 on Tuesday night, which could turn out to be another shrewd move by Boone, who is seemingly pressing all the right buttons in October.

Yankees: Clint Frazier’s moonshot off Blake Snell makes Aaron Boone look genius

New York Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier rocked a solo home run off Tampa Bay Rays starter Blake Snell in his first playoff start.