The MLB postseason is often unforgiving.
One minute, you make the play of your life.
Shortly after, you are overwhelmed by the situation.
It’s baseball at its finest: the best pitchers in the world and the most difficult hitters, too.
New York Yankees reliever Clarke Schmidt had a roller-coaster ride during Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros, played last night at Minute Maid Park.
Upon entering the game in the fifth inning, he induced a crucial double-play ball with the bases loaded and one out to get out of the jam.
Manager Aaron Boone decided to leave him on the mound for an additional inning, and everything collapsed in a hurry.
“Clarke Schmidt faced 140 right-handed batters during the regular season and allowed just 2 HR. Tonight, in a span of 3 batters, he allowed 2 HR to right-handed batters,” MLB stats expert Katie Sharp tweeted.
Clarke Schmidt faced 140 right-handed batters during the regular season and allowed just 2 HR.
Tonight, in a span of 3 batters, he allowed 2 HR to right-handed batters.
— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) October 20, 2022
Those Two Home Runs Decided The Game
The Astros lineup is incredibly strong, perhaps the best in MLB.
Schmidt did well to escape damage in his first inning, but then allowed home runs to Yuli Gurriel and Chas McCormick as the Astros took a commanding 3-1 lead.
After that pivotal point, the Astros wouldn’t look back and ended up winning, 4-2.
Schmidt had already blown a game against the Cleveland Guardians, so perhaps Boone should pick his spots a bit better.
He is not a bad pitcher (he had a 3.12 ERA in 57.2 innings in 2022), but Boone should have gone with other experienced arms in the sixth inning, after Schmidt got the inning-ending double play.
Perhaps the outcome of the game could have been different, but we will never know.
Those two homers decided the game in Houston’s favor.
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