Before the game in Yankee Stadium, the national anthem was sung by actor, comedian and singer Neil Patrick Harris.
He is known for playing the title character in the TV-series Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989-1993).
Hereafter, he appeared in many more TV-series.
Harris also played a role in the science-fiction film Starship Troopers (1997), which was directed by Dutchman Paul Verhoeven.
In 2014, he won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.
In 2015, he hosted the Academy Awards.
The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by former Yankee-great Reggie Jackson, who played for the team in 1977-1981.
He won the World Series twice (1977, 1978) with the Yankees after already having won the Championship Final with Oakland Athletics in three consecutive years (1972-1974).
Jackson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.
During the 1977 World Series, Jackson became known as 'Mr. October' when he hit three homeruns in Game 6 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Masahiro Tanaka dominated tonight for the Yankees.
The Japanese righthander struckout seven hitters and gave up only three basehits in the seven innings he threw, while walking only one batter.
It was a pitching-duel tonight, as Carlos Carrasco also did well for the Indians.
He also struckout seven hitters and also gave up only three hits, but left the mound after 5 2/3 inning.
Both starters retired the side in the first inning and both struckout two hitters.
Carrasco added two strikeouts in the second at bat, while Tanaka was supported with a double play.
In the third inning, it was the Cleveland-defense that turned a double play after Tanaka got three consecutive outs again in the top of the third.
In the top of the fourth, Cleveland got close to opening the score when Jason Kipnis tripled with one out.
But hereafter, Tanaka struckout José Ramirez and Jay Bruce!
In the bottom of the fourth, Didi Gregorius singled with two outs, but stranded on first base.
...Masahiro Tanaka dominated for the Yankees...
...On the photo, he pitches for Japan against the Netherlands...
...in the Second Round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Tanaka and Carrasco continued their good outings in the fifth.
Tanaka was supported again with a double play, while Carrasco retired the side and still had not allowed the Yankees to get into scoring position.
The Indians left a runner behind on first base in the top of the sixth.
Roberto Perez led off with a single and with two outs, Francisco Lindor drove the ball into rightfield, where Aaron Judge made a great catch and robbed him of a 2-run homerun.
The Yankees got the bases loaded in its sixth.
Aaron Hicks led off with a single, but was eliminated in a double play.
With two outs, Aaron Judge walked, Gary Sánchez singled and Didi Gregorius also walked, which led to a pitching change.
Andrew Miller took over from Carrasco and all three runners were left behind when Starlin Castro popped out.
Tanaka retired the side again in the top of the seventh.
The Yankees then opened the score in the bottom of the seventh when Greg Bird led off with a homerun.
The 24-year old first baseman had hit nine homeruns in 48 games in the regular season, his second in the Majors and his second with the Yankees.
After Bird's homerun, a flyout followed, then Tyler Olson took over the pitching and struckout the next two hitters.
In the top of the eighth inning, David Robertson took over from Masahiro Tanaka.
With one out, he walked Michael Brantley, which was followed by four changes.
First, Lonnie Chisenhall was announced as pinch-hitter.
Hereafter, Robertson was relieved by Aroldis Chapman.
When the Cuban had taken the mound, Cleveland opted to go with another pinch-hiiter and so, Yan Gomes was inserted to replace Chisenhall, who had been an official change, meaning he was no longer available to play in this game.
The fourth change was that Greg Allen became the pinch-runner for Brantley.
However, the changes didn't help, as Chapman struckout the next two hitters to end the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, New York got another runner in scoring position.
Brett Gardner led off with a double.
Reliever Tyler Olson was then relieved by Joe Smith, who then struckout the next two hitters.
With two outs, Didi Gregorius was walked intentionally, but was forced out moments later.
In the top of the ninth, Cleveland got into scoring position for only the second time.
Aroldis Chapman began with a strikeout, but then gave up singles to Jason Kipnis and José Ramirez.
Chapman then struckout powerhitter Jay Bruce and a flyout ended the game.
And with that, the famous song 'New York, New York' was played again in Yankee Stadium, sung by legendary Frank Sinatra, which is always played when the Yankees win.
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Yankees avoid sweep with thriller-win against Indians
THE BRONX, NEW YORK CITY, New York (USA) -
New York Yankees avoided a sweep in the best-of-five American League Division Series by winning only 1-0 against Cleveland Indians in a thriller on Sunday-evening (October 8).
Cleveland opened the Series on Thursday with a 4-0 shutout-win, then won the second game on Friday with a 9-8 in 13 innings after trailing 8-3 halfway the sixth inning.
The fourth game of the Series will be played on Monday in New York, but rain is also expected then.
In a pitching-duel, the lone run was scored in the seventh inning when Greg Bird homered.