Anthony Rizzo made up for two days of miscues with one big Yankees at-bat
NY Post
CLEVELAND — Anthony Rizzo found an unlikely path to redemption.
The four-time Gold Glove winner’s two days of defensive near-misses were somewhat washed away Friday when he started the game-winning, ninth-inning rally with a single off MLB’s best closer, helping the Yankees recover from blowing a four-run lead to beat the Guardians, 8-6, in Game 4 of the ALCS.
“The guy has been there, done that,” Aaron Judge said of Rizzo. “He’s played in Game 7 of a World Series and come out on the better end [for the Cubs]. He understands there’s going to be some ups and downs throughout the game and you may … do something bad, but you’ve got the next opportunity.”
It was only a few minutes before his single that Rizzo had an underhand toss from scrambling pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. go through his legs, allowing the tying run to score. A come-backer bounced off Leiter’s foot and rolled to the first base line, where he made a flip that seemed to handcuff Rizzo.
“I tried to stay composed and make a quick flip, but that’s just a tough play,” Leiter said. “You are so close to each other, and I probably got to a blind spot for him a little bit.”
Playing with two broken fingers on his glove hand and a history of back problems, Rizzo has looked less agile than normal at first base.
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Dylan Garand knew the number off the top of his head. He knew that, between the regular season and playoffs, he’d logged over 160 games with AHL Hartford, and he was right. Before the Rangers recalled him Friday, Garand had served as the Wolf Pack’s goaltender 165 times.
SAN DIEGO — As you may have seen elsewhere in this newspaper (and also if you haven’t deleted me yet from your social media), I have a book coming out Tuesday called “The Bosses of The Bronx.” Much of it details the 37 years’ worth of antics, winning, losing, winning again and overall mania of George Steinbrenner’s time with the Yankees.
The Knicks are on a five-game winning streak and flooded with concerns.