Yankees Take American League Wild-Card Game, Will Face Cleveland Indians Next

The New York Yankees continued their remarkable season by taking the A.L. wild-card game on Tuesday night 8-4 over the Minnesota Twins.

The Bronx Bombers were able to overcome an early three-run hole in the first inning when starting pitcher Luis Severino stunk out the joint and was given the hook by manager Joe Girardi after allowing four hits.

Yankees pitching then settled down and the sluggers did the rest.

After a rough first inning, the @Yankees needed to break out the bats.

And boy, they sure did. https://t.co/8WjK6yAqxU #WinningTogether pic.twitter.com/aUYct9vFzn

— MLB (@MLB) October 4, 2017

On a potent team the likes of New York, no deficit is insurmountable and this is especially the case with an early one and with the other team having their own shaky pitcher on the mound.

The Yanks quickly jumped on Ervin Santana and thanks to shortstop Didi Gregorius smacking a 3-run homer, were able to survive the early scare and exit the first inning tied at three.

The bullpen – forced into action early after Severino’s implosion – held the Twins to just one run the rest of the way and Yanks’ hitters came through with two more homers including rookie sensation Aaron Judge’s first postseason dinger.

.@Yankees use three homers, stellar bullpen to beat Twins and advance to face Indians in #ALDS: https://t.co/JjW2FTNFx5 pic.twitter.com/6FBHOMRSfB

— MLB (@MLB) October 4, 2017

The crowd at Yankees Stadium was ecstatic as their team moved on to the divisional round against the powerhouse Cleveland Indians.

For the Twins, it was the team’s thirteenth consecutive playoff loss to the Yankees and a disappointing end to a team the exceeded expectations this year.

The A.L. division series starts Thursday in Cleveland at 4 pm ET.